Jalabhishek campaign to tackle ground water table in MP

Bhopal, Mar 28 (UNI) In view of plummeting ground water table in Madhya Pradesh, the state government will launch its ambitious Jalabhishek Abhiyan on April 2.

The campaign -- aimed at conserving and preserving water -- will stress upon developing infrastructure besides soil conservation and tree plantation.

Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters here today Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the campaign from Neemuch on April 2 and then undertake a 'padyatra' in the district.

'Padyatras' will be taken out in several villages in the presence of people's representatives to spread awareness about the campaign.

Minister incharge of various districts will take the message to people under the campaign from April 10 to April 13, while MPs, MLAs and panchayat representatives will start the campaign at block and gram panchayat level between April 14 to April 19.

Mr Tomar said help will be taken from agriculture, forest, public health engineering and irrigation departments for successful implementation of the campaign.

Construction and repair work of water bodies will be carried out on a war-footing in April, May and June so that water could be conserved.

He said special emphasis will be laid on tree plantation, as it will improve the soil's water-retaining capacity.

Though a provision has not been made in the budget, work will be carried out under the scheme under various employment-oriented programmes, he added.

UNI PKJ-PS LS RK1810