BARAMULLA: With an aim to intensify water conservation, a nationwide campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti under National Water Mission, Catch the Rain focuses on creating rain water harvesting structures across UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
Central Nodal Officer for Baramulla, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Vrunda Manohar Desai, Director Ministry of Information and Broadcasting who is on a three-day visit to Baramulla visited various areas of Baramulla and reviewed progress of the district under Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
The Central Nodal Officer was accompanied by Technical Officer MoJS, Arup Kumar Chakrabarty; SE Hydraulic Circle Baramulla Mohammed Hanief; ACD Yar Ali Khan and other Officers.
During the visit, Central Nodal Officer, Jal Shakti Abhiyan inspected various works taken up for water conservation and asserted that the rain water harvesting recharges their natural aquifers which optimizes ground water usage. She said that water conservation has become critical which demands individual as well as collective efforts of conservation.
Desai visited various blocks of Forest division Tangmarg and inspected afforestation sites at Drung Tangmarg being executed by the Forest department. She also inspected Amrit Sarovar at Qazipora and water reservoirs. Earlier, Desai visited Jal Shakti Kendra Baramulla.
On the occasion, it was revealed that District Baramulla hosts 94 water bodies which will be rejuvenated under Jal Shakti Abhiyan for sustainable utilization of water. Vrunda said that the water bodies are the assets having significant socio-economic importance.
During the visit of Central Nodal Officer, it was revealed that under Jal Shakti Abhiyan campaign, drives to make check dams, water harvesting pits, rooftop rain water harvesting structures etc; removal of encroachments and de-silting of tanks to increase their storage capacity; removal of obstructions in the channels which bring water to them from the catchment areas etc; repairs to step-wells and using defunct bore-wells and unused wells to put water back to aquifers etc are to be taken up with the active participation of people.
Central Nodal Officer Jal Shakti Abhiyan said that under Catch the Rain initiative, Jal Shakti Kendra will be established in every district which will facilitate implementation of Rain Water Harvesting Structures. The JSK centres will disseminate information related to Water conservation besides providing technical guidance to people for water conservation.
