Lucknow, 10 April (HS) : Dry ponds, wells, check dams and lakes on the thirsty land of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh can be seen flooded in this rainy season and people can get water through wells, lakes and ponds during the scorching summers as the Yogi government is paying special attention to provide water to every field and tap water in every house in thr Bundelkhand region.
According to the officials of the Minor Irrigation Department of UP Government, check dams being built in Bundelkhand region in order to prevent rain water from being wasted. In seven districts of Bundelkhand, check-dams are being constructed on rainy drains.
The officials said that during rains, a large amount of water from these drains is wasted, which will be stopped by check dams. It will serve dual purpose as on one hand, water is recharged whereas water collected in ponds, wells and drains is useful for irrigation. These check dams and ponds will provide considerable relief to the Bundelkhand.
District Magistrate of Jhansi, A. Vamsi said that ponds and reservoirs in this region dried up every year while water level of the wells went down. Keeping in mind, hundreds of ponds are being deepened and new ponds and check dams are being built. To tackle the drought in Jhansi, ‘One Village, One Pond’ scheme has also been started. Under this scheme, 405 village ponds have been revived so far.
Similarly, works are being done to construct and renovate check dams, ponds and wells in Jalaun, Lalitpur, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot districts of Bundelkhand.
Arjun Sahayak canal to be completed soon
According to the officials, Arjun Sahayak canal, which irrigates about 45000 hectares of fields of Mahoba, Hamirpur and Banda districts, will also be completed this year with the intention of supplying water to every field in Bundelkhand benefitting about 1.5 lakh farmers.
Apart from this, about 19000 hectares of additional land of Lalitpur, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Mahoba will be irrigated with the restoration of Bhawani Dam, Rasin, Lakheri, Ratauli, Bandai, Masgaon and Chilli, Kulpahar and Shehzad Dam Sprinkler Irrigation Project and Jakhlaun Canal System and 16,000 more farmers will be benefited.
After the completion of these projects, not only the agricultural production will be ramped up but the income of the farmers will also increase. Regarding these plans and construction of ponds, check dams and wells and renovation of old wells, ponds etc., the officials claim that this time the dry ponds, wells, lakes and check dams in Bundelkhand will all be brimming with water.
106 check dams & 126 ponds to be built in the region by June
A spokesperson of the state government says that Bundelkhand, a water deficient region for years, has been undergoing a transformation in terms of innovation in water sector. As the task given by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, under the supervision of the District Magistrates, all the dry ponds are being deepened, old wells are being repaired, new ponds and wells are being constructed in the entire Bundelkhand. Along with ponds and wells, the check dams and lakes etc. built on the thirsty land of Bundelkhand can be seen flooded in this rainy season and people can get water through wells, lakes and ponds during the scorching summers.
He said that taking cognizance of the dry condition of the region, the Chief Minister started emphasising on the expansion of irrigation capacity and rainwater harvesting in Bundelkhand as part of his resolve to provide ‘water to every field’. Under it, it was decided to construct a total of 269 check dams and 219 ponds in the third phase of the Bundelkhand package. This construction work was to be done through the Small Irrigation Department. Of these, 163 check dams and 93 ponds had already been built till last year while the remaining 106 check dams and 126 ponds were targeted to be completed by the month of June this year, he said.
