CHANDIGARH, NOV 1
Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal announced to constitute a Pond Management Authority for the protection, conservation, development and rejuvenation of each of the over 14,000 ponds in the State even as Mr Rajendra Singh, Magsaysay Awardee praised his incredible feat of having taking water to the tail ends in the southern Haryana and Masani Dam after 30 years. The Chief Minister also announced that an unspent balance of Rs 60 crore out of Rs 100 crore budget of Haryana Swarna Jayanti Celebrations Authority would now be spent on efforts to double the income of farmers and to conserve water.
Both of them were speaking at a “National Seminar on Enhancing Efficacy of Usage of Water” jointly organized by Irrigation Department and Haryana Irrigation Research and Management Institute, Kurukhsetra on the occasion of 52nd Haryana Day here today in which Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y Quraishi also spoke as an expert.
The Chief Minister also announced that 50 to 60 small lakes or water bodies would be developed in the areas adjoining Delhi for storage and recharging of water to meet the growing requirement of water in areas adjoining the national capital.
He said that the Public Health and Engineering Department would tap the excess water flowing in the villages and put the same into the ponds. The digging work of ponds would be carried out every year, he added. The water would be used for irrigation of 30 to 100 acres of agriculture land near the village ponds.
While emphasizing the need of water conservation, the Chief Minister said that check dams would be constructed at eight to nine places in the shivalik foothills for the conservation and storage of rainy water. A detailed study has been got conducted through the Webcos in this regard. Apart from this, 3-ponds and 5-ponds system has been implemented.
Expressing concern over the increasing demand of water in the Delhi and adjoining areas, the Chief Minister said that Delhi has a population of about 2.5 crores and after adding the population of adjoining districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida, it reaches upto about four crores . As Delhi is the capital of India, Haryana is also facing the burden of water shortage in the national capital. Keeping all this in view, it has been decided to develop 50 to 60 small lakes or water bodies in the areas adjoining Delhi so that the water stored could be utilized to meet the growing requirement of water in adjoining areas.
He said that there is need to ensure the optimum utilization of water as its over exploitation might become a cause of the next world war. The whole world is concerned on this issue. While referring to mining, he said that mining upto a minimum level should be allowed either manually or mechanized otherwise it could results into flood. The State Government would work to revive the Water Conservation Mission implemented in the year 2001 in a phased manner. Water which we would be able to store either through our natural resources or other systems could be utilized throughout the year, he further added.
Earlier, in his key note address, Magsaysay Award Winner, Mr Rajendra Singh was all praise of the Chief Minister; Mr Manohar Lal saying that it was for the first time in last 32 years that water has reached to tail ends in the State. He said that he had visited Sabi River along with the three professors without any prior intimation to the State Government and was quite amazed to see water flowing into the river after so many years. He also appreciated the micro-irrigation project being implemented in Pehowa, district Kurukshetra and said that it is need of the hour to implement micro irrigation systems in view of the increasing demand of water in the State. As the forest area in the Arawali region had reduced lately, there was a need to recharge ground water in the region.
Describing Haryana as one of the prosperous States of the country, Mr Singh suggested to recharge the flood water of river Yamuna as through this, the agriculture in the Narnaul area could be further enhanced. He said that recharge of ground water should be increased as it would be a sustainable source to meet the water requirement of the State. He said that the micro irrigation is a riskless concept and suggested the State Government to take this system from district to village and block level.
Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y Quraishi said that water conservation is the need of the hour for which competitive multiple sectoral management is required. He said that there was a need to revive the water conservation mission implemented in the year 2001 and said that every department has its role to play in one way or another. He said that the Education Department could play a major role in the conservation of water by launching campaigns to save water in all schools of the State.
Principal Secretary, Irrigation Department, Mr Anurag Rastogi said that on the direction of Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal cleanliness and strengthening of all canal have been made in the State as a result of this, we have been successful in getting 30 per cent more water from Yamuna river as compared to last year. He said that it is for the first time in the country, micro irrigation has been implemented in the command of any canal. Under this system, water stored in the ponds is taken out by using pumps and utilized the same for irrigation. He said that 14 to 15 such projects are being implemented in the State out of which three projects have been completed whereas the remaining are in the progress. He said that the department has also implemented the micro irrigation for paddy crop. Initially this system has been implemented in Pehowa on pilot basis and later on it would be rolled out in other parts of the State also.
Chief Secretary, Mr D.S Dhesi said that political will is must for the successful implementation of any programme. He said that we are fortunate that Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal has not only that political will but he is also committed for the issue of water. He said that this is an appropriate time to take forward this mission.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Rajesh Khullar said that it was for the first time in last 32 years that water has reached to 1156 tail ends in the State. He said that this has become possible due to the farsighted approach of Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal. He described the issue of water as an important and said that there is a need to take immediate action in this regard.
Principal OSD to Chief Minister Mr Neeraj Daftuar, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department Mr P.K Mahapatra, Director, Town and Country Planning Department Mr T.L Satyaprakash, academicians, and large number of participants.
----balbirsingh227@gmail.com
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