While subsequent state governments have for long talked about taking measures to recharge the depleting ground water table, people in Fatehgarh Sahib district have actually started work in this direction on a war footing.
They have formed 'Jal Bachao (save water) Committees' in 127 villages that are now trying to make it a mass movement.
From reviving traditional water sources to making farmers realize the harmful effects of planting paddy before time, these committees, having five to 10 members each, have vowed to make their land fertile again using traditional methods.
The inspiration behind this cause was Alaknanda Dayal, former deputy commissioner of the district, who started motivating people to take affirmative action last year. Interestingly, Dayal never publicized this project and people joined it seeing its effectiveness.
"More than publicity, it is commitment from people that would decide the success of the project," she said.
Dayal said that it was a hard fact that in many areas of the state villagers were struggling for potable water, but little importance was being given to it.
She disclosed that out of 137 blocks in the district, ground water had been overexploited in 103 villages, four were in very critical condition while five were in semi-critical condition.
"Effort from the villagers can still save the future of the state, otherwise it would become a desert," she warned.
Kuldeep Singh, a member of the Jal Bachao Committee told TOI that for the time being they were trying to create social awareness about not planting paddy in advance.
Kuldeep further disclosed that they would also make efforts to clean village ponds and digging pits to recharge the ground water.
Renowned environmentalist Balvir Singh Seechewal said that Dayal had shown a new path to people in the state which had been facing a shortfall in water availability to the tune of 1.25 million hectare-meter every year.
He said the government should adopt this scheme for the entire state.
Times of India
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें