Thursday, 02 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The State government has directed the district magistrates to appoint a dedicated nodal officer for watershed management and river rejuvenation. The districts have also been asked to provide an action plan regarding rejuvenation of water sources, springs, streams and rivers in Uttarakhand within a week.
These orders were given by Chief Secretary Radha Raturi on Wednesday while chairing a meeting on water conservation at the State secretariat.
In the meeting the CS expressed her strong displeasure on non submission of an action plan on rejuvenation of rivers and directed the DMs to submit it within a week.
She also directed the DMs to hold a meeting of District Level Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA) within three days. Raturi said that the Chief Development Officer (CDO) should be connected with this campaign.
The CS directed the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), finance to hold a meeting for funding utilization for the rejuvenation of water sources and rivers through MNREGA, NABARD, CAMPA and PMKSY.
She said that officers should work on a holistic and integrated plan instead of district-wise plan for the rejuvenation of water sources, rivers, tributaries, and streams in the state.
Raturi asked the DMs to identify 10 and 20 critical drying springs in each block and in the district respectively under Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan- 2024.
She said that a plan for the rejuvenation of one river in each district under the long term strategy should be made. The CS also emphasised on an action plan for identification and rejuvenation of dried ponds in the plain districts of the States.
Under Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan -2024, it has been stated that there are usually two to three water sources in every village in mountainous areas.
For restoration of these water sources, contour trenches and recharge pits can be constructed in the water supply areas of these sources.
Ground water can be recharged through raw ponds, check dams and recharge pits in the plain villages. Chal-Khal can be constructed in forest areas and pasture areas near the villages.
The ACS Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary Shailesh Bagauli and others attended the meeting. All the DMs were present in the meeting through virtual medium.
