Work on 300 recharge units begins in flood-prone blocks

BOX (NOT IN COPY): 1,000 structures in the offing

– The state government has decided to build 1,000 recharge shafts in eight water-stressed blocks, with the project costing around Rs 32.33 crore

– The blocks are Ratia (Fatehabad), Siwan and Guhla (Kaithal), Pipli, Shahabad, Babain and Ismailabad (Kurukshetra) and Sirsa, where the groundwater level is below 40 m

– As many as 1,177 farmers, including 182 in Ratia, 76 in Siwan, 231 in Guhla, 55 in Pipli, 426 in Shahabad, 47 in Babain, 108 in Ismailabad and 52 in Sirsa, have so far applied under the ‘Mera Pani, Meri Virasat’ scheme

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20

With a view to utilise surplus monsoon runoff to recharge groundwater level, the Haryana Government has started the work to construct 300 shafts in three water-stressed and flood-prone blocks on pilot basis under the ‘Mera Pani, Meri Virasat’ scheme.

The scheme aims at protecting the depleting groundwater table through crop diversification

Stating this here on Monday, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sanjeev Kaushal said the construction of 100 recharge shafts in the Guhla block was started on July 19, after the allotment of work on July 14.

He said tenders had been invited for undertaking the construction of 100 shafts each in the Ratia and Shahabad blocks, and agreements would be finalised on Monday. The Irrigation and Water Resources Department, which is implementing the project, would soon float tenders for the construction of 700 recharge shafts in all eight blocks covered under the scheme.

He said a farmer would pay 10 per cent of the total cost or a maximum of Rs 10,000 as contribution for the construction of recharge structure at his field at the time of the submission of application, or he may give his consent to maintain the structure, in which case, the total cost of the shaft would be borne by the government.

Farmers in the selected eight blocks may construct recharge shafts on their flood-prone land at their own expense. However, this construction has to be undertaken in accordance with the guidelines and stipulations laid out by the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. The design of the structure approved by the CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) and Central Ground Water Board, Chandigarh, would be followed. Such farmers may apply on the ‘Mera Pani, Meri Virasat’ portal.

The committee will provide the design and technical know-how to the farmers for constructing the recharge shaft and will also ensure that the structure has been built as per the approved design and feasibility of site. The Irrigation and Water Resources Department will provide the locations of the recharge structures for sampling and testing of flooded and recharge water to the CCSHAU, which will conduct a study on the quality of water.