Water revolution gains momentum in MP

Bhopal, May 19(UNI) A unique revolution aimed at creation and conservation of water bodies is catching up momentum across Madhya Pradesh with the government coming forward as a major facilitator.

As part of the ''Jal Abhishek'' campaign, nearly 1.87 lakh water conservation works involving an expenditure of more than Rs 500 crore are going on with public-private participation.

The government also pitched in offering to bear about half the expenditure in constructing ponds in the fields. At the same time, it has also been made mandatory in all government buildings, new buildings and government colonies to erect rain water harvesting structures.

''Implementing water conservation and augmentation activities with public participation and spreading water literacy are a must to avert impending water crisis'', Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here yesterday while reviewing the water conservation campaign.

Calling for transforming the campaign into a mass movement, Mr Chouhan said the farm sector would also witness a rapid transformation with the farmers coming forward to construct ponds in their fields. 50 per cent of the cost of constructing ponds in the fields of farmers would be provided as grant by the government, he added.

''Madhya Pradesh would be known as a state adopting model water conservation activities in the country'', Mr Chouhan added.

As the campaign is taking shape of a mass movement, several farmers came forward contributing Rs 12 crore for water conservation works, while many donated their land for construction of tanks.

Official sources said more than 24,000 ponds had already been constructed in fields. As many as 9285 facilitation groups of government officials had been formulated to give technical assistance to 49,386 Rural Jal Abhishek committees.

Water conservation activities being carried out across the state include bolder check structures, contour trenches, on farm ponds, recharging of wells and tubewells, construction of percolation tanks, renovation of old tanks, improving irrigation facilities, construction of stop dams, soak pits and roof water harvesting structures.

Rural development and agriculture departments are also associated with the campaign.

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