"Every drop counts, let's save for our future; Conservation today, sustains life forever."
Conserve to Preserve - Every Drop Matters.
Due to less and scanty rainfall for two years (2012 & 2013) continuously led to rapid decrease in groundwater to the extend of 2 to 3 meter and had resulted in the acute shortage of water for human, animal and agriculture. More than 1500 tankers were required to supply the water for drinking purpose. More than 620 cattle camps were opened and 5 lakh animals were required to be fed. The situation was very grave and people were agitating against the government.
The challenge before administration was to provide alternate positive programme to engage the people and to streamline the measures to tackle the drought.
To tackle this situation, an idea came in my mind is to put an innovative programme before the villagers to make village self sufficient with regards to water so that long term solutions can be achieved.
The workshop was organised involving all Government agencies and NGOs.
The programme named as "Jalyukta Gaon Abhiyan "was prepared using various sources of funds in integral manner to arrest surface runoff, to conserve the water by creating structures, restoration of old structures and creating decentralized water bodies. Action plan of each village was prepared involving the villagers and was approved by the collector.
The program was effectively implemented and people have contributed to the tune**** of rupees. It became people's programme and there was not a single agitation in any district.
Considering the success of Jalyukta Gaon Abhiyan implemented in Pune Division, as the Secretary of Water Conservation, the unique programme was put before the Government as scarcity mitigation measure. Govt. of Maharashtra accepted the programme as flagship programme named as JALYUKT SHIVAR ABHIYAN. Government passed resolution on 5/12/2014 to make scarcity free 5000 villages every year. Water budget was the base of village action plan, Watershed development was core and there was integration of 14 schemes. Collector is declared as a incharge of the programme.
In year 2015-16, Government has given Rs.2000 Cr as a special fund through DPDC. Plans were approved in Gramsabha. There was provision for 3rd party and concurrent evaluation. People contributed to the tune of rs.500 Cr. which was noteworthy. This programme include water conservation, River and nala rejunuvation, desiltation work, nala deepening and widening, repair of old structures, well recharge and farmponds. In first year protective irrigation potential created for two protective irrigations is about 3 lac hectares.
When I was in charge of the Secretary, Water Conservation, this program was implemented in order to provide protective irrigation to the crops. Target to complete one lakh Shettale (farmponds) in three years were completed and there was overwhelming response. This has helped to recharge the groundwater and to provide protective irrigation in rainfed agriculture.
As Secretary EGS, the special program was under taken for digging one lakh NREGA wells. This was targeted in the area where there is good availability of groundwater particularly in Vidarbha region. We succeeded in completing the target of one lakh wells in three years with certain modifications in implementation guideline of NREGA. This has helped to provide the protective irrigation to the crops and avail the maximum funds of the Central Government.
