Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched in Mansa, Bathinda districts

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 9

A farmer awareness camp was held at Mankheda in Sardulgarh village in Mansa district. The camp was presided by the Additional Secretary, Ministry for Cooperative Affairs, Anjali Bhawra.

Bhawra is head of the team from the Government of India team that is visiting Mansa to launch the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan. The programme focuses on water conservation. Interacting with the farmers, she said farmers must use drip irrigation and rain water harvesting systems. She commended Mankheda village for work on drip irrigation. She said it should also adopt rainwater harvesting systems.

Speaking at the event Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait said if we continued using water recklessly, water would not be left, even for drinking. She called upon for water conservation in both fields and houses and said people would have to make it a habit to save water.

The team visited various villages in the district. At Sardulgarh, the team visited Chotian village and reviewed disposal pipeline and renovation work of pond as well as the work related to constructing soak pits in school.

Similarly, at Lohgarh village, impending pond renovation and soak pit unit were inspected. At Ahlupur, impending pond renovation, drinking water pipeline and irrigation pipeline works were inspected. The team also reviewed impending works of pond renovation and school toilets at Khaira Khurd. The team was shown impending work on renovation of pond at Karandi.

At Mankheda, the team saw drip irrigation structure and soak pits constructed at School and held an awareness camp for farmers. At Jhanda Kalan village, they oversaw the work on renovation of pond and laying of pipeline that is to be undertaken. Team members also visited the Sewage Treatment Plant at Sardulgarh.

Later, the team visited Khane Wala, Kusla, Ullak, Mian, Bajewala, Kot Dharmu, Lalianwali, Rama Mandi, Jhunir, Ghurkni and Khiali Chehlanwali villages.

Campaign launched in Bathinda

Launching the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan in Bathinda on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said 1,100 rainwater harvesting structures would be constructed in rural areas of Bathinda to enable recharging of groundwater. Five rainwater harvesting structures would be raised at each gram panchayat.

Besides this, as many as 150 government buildings, including the District Administrative Complex, government schools and court complexes, have been identified for the purpose of installing rainwater harvesting system.