'Jalabhishek' to be developed into people's movement

Neemuch, MP, Apr 2 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the 'Jalabhishek Abhiyan', an ambitious water conservation and augmentation campaign launched today, would be developed into a people's movement.

''The constant decline in the water table is a cause for concern.

In Malwa, it has declined to 500-600 feet. A 'Kheto ka Pani Kheto Mein aur Gaon ka Pani Gaon Mein (Water Retention in Farms and Villages) campaign will also be launched. For this, ponds will be sunk in one lakh farms,'' he told mediapersons in this district's Dudarsi village.

Farmers, who sunk ponds using their own resources, would receive grants. Stop dams would be constructed with public assistance, infrastructure created and old infrastructure repaired.

''The erstwhile Congress regime's 'Pani Roko Abhiyan' was a case of large promise and poor performance,'' he alleged.

As many as 163 water-related infrastructure projects would be construicted in this district at a cost of Rs 2.21 crore.

UNI SHD KD RAI2048