Rs1.57 cr plan to check depleting water table

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, July 2

District Watershed Development Unit led by Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori today gave a nod to an action plan worth Rs 1.57 crore for conserving depleting ground water table in 40 villages of the district. Chairing a meeting of a high-powered committee, the Deputy Commissioner said under Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), the action plan aimed at restoring ecological balance by harnessing natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water. He said the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) was implemented by the Department of Land Resources of Ministry of Rural Development.

Thori said the scheme tried to bring about an ecological balance. The Deputy Commissioner said as per the action plan, lift irrigation projects for efficient utilisation of pond water for irrigation using underground pipe lines, using rain water harvesting structures in government buildings to recharge the depleting ground water table, construction of soil erosion prevention structures to safeguard the farmer’s field, pipe outlets to divert the flow of water from one field to another and others would be done to check depleting groundwater table.

Thori said under this scheme, 40 villages of the district, including 35 of Shahkot, Nakodar and Lohian block besides five villages of Phillaur block have been chosen. He asked the officers to expedite the work on this ambitious project so that people could be benefitted from this scheme adding that the action plan would be helpful in checking the environmental degradation in terms of depleting water table by tackling it effectively through the holistic development of the watershed.