Water conservation only blessing for Bundelkhand: central team

Mahoba/Chitrakoot/Jhansi, Jan 24 (UNI) A Central government team has asserted that drought-hit Bundelkhand region could be brought back to life only with the implementation of water conservation project.

A 10-member team led by the National Rainfed Agricultural Authority Director General J N Samra, who had visited Mahoba, Chitrakoot and Jhansi districts of the region, has today accepted that the region is adversely affected with drought.

The conservation projects should be framed keeping in view the geographical conditions of the plateau region, the team said.

Since few years, the region had been suffering agricultural losses due to continuous drought.

Dr Samra said the team would apprise the government of water crisis and would suggest projects that will not only fulfill their water requirements, but also provide sufficient water for irrigation purposes.

As the water level had dropped to 300 ft, a proposal to interconnect the rivers to meet future potable water crisis is on cards.

Mahoba district administration had chalked out a project that would bring water in the region from Hamirpur Yammuna river through Link cannal and the central team would recommend it for scientific tests, Dr Samra underlined.

The projects would be focused for the period of 20 to 25 years.

Meanwhile, the team surveyed Madar Sagar pond, Mahoba's main potable water source, besides taking progress report of the various government schemes.

The team also looked at the conditions of well, ponds, handpumps and all other water resources of the Bundelkhand region and apprised that maximum resources had totally dried up.

Later, the team also visited Jhansi district.

UNI PDM JAS LPB VC1842