Panel to draft bill on judicious use of groundwater

Chandigarh, Jul 15 (UNI) The Haryana government has constituted a committee comprising three cabinet ministers to finalise a bill to regulate and ensure judicious use of groundwater in the state.

This was stated here today by Haryana Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha.

He said that to keep a watch on declining water level in the state, the Ground Water Cell of the Haryana Agriculture Department had established 2105 Grid observation points at 20 square kilometres which were being monitored twice in a year during pre-monsoon and post monsoon.

The Minister informed that under Accelerated Recharge of Groundwater Scheme, 257 rainwater harvesting structures had been constructed so far with an expenditure of Rs 151.81 lakh in the state as remedial measures to recharge groundwater through injection well technique.

He said that these rainwater harvesting structures had been constructed in the government buildings all over the state.

Mr Chatha informed that a provision of Rs 75 lakh had been made for the construction of rainwater harvesting structures under the scheme during the current financial year.

Mass awareness programme were being launched through Pani Panchayat for conservation of water, he said.

The Department would actively participate in the farmers meets organised in different districts to educate them for judicious use of ground water, he added.

UNI MA JS1856