Water conservation is like savings for future, save every drop: CM

Yogi inaugurates 278 check dams, ponds in various UP districts

LUCKNOW : Stating that conservation of ponds, other water bodies and groundwater was like savings for the future, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday appealed to the people of the state to save every drop of water.

The CM, who inaugurated 278 check dams and ponds in various districts of the state through a virtual programme at his official residence, said, “Presently, the Atal Bhoojal Scheme has been implemented in 10 districts and the remaining 65 districts of the state will be covered soon”, he said.

Yogi pointed out that 200 development blocks of the state were declared dark zone in 2017.

Ater an investigation, it was found that this was decided on the basis of a survey conducted in 1994.“A new act was formulated by the government and it was decided to link all government buildings with rainwater harvesting. A decision was also taken to rejuvenate rivers, drain water and ponds and as a result of working in mission mode, the situation is gradually improving,” he said.

The number of critical and semi-critical areas was gradually decreasing and the groundwater level was increasing as the work was taken up on a mission mode, the CM added.

Referring to the importance of pure drinking water, Yogi said, “The diseases like Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndromes (AES) reflect our apathy towards water. With making pure water available, the risk of all such diseases will be eliminated.”

Terming the practice of flowing polluted water under ground as harmful for future, the CM stressed on the need to keep the groundwater clean. Encouraging rainwater harvesting, he said, “In areas like Firozabad and Mathura where there is a problem of salty water, rainwater harvesting is a good means of obtaining fresh water.” He also called upon the farmers to adopt drip irrigation system.

On the occasion, Yogi also interacted with the representatives of various committees that are working in the field of water management in various districts of the state.

Entrepreneurs termed the integrated system as a much-appreciated initiative and thanked the CM. During the interaction, Shivnath Singh of Auraiya told the CM that after constructing check dams in his gram panchayat, the water level had not only improved but had also benefited the irrigation in the fields. Kuldeep of Moradabad also narrated the beauty of the newly constructed pond in his locality and apprised the CM of the activities of the fisheries being carried out in it.

“Water conservation could only be possible with public participation and where the value of this unique gift of nature is not understood, there will be problems like famine and drought in the future. By the grace of nature, surface and groundwater is in abundance in the state,” the CM said.

Yogi also inaugurated the web portal http:upgwdonline.com developed by the groundwater department. The web portal is based on the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Management and Regulation Act 2019.

The portal is an integrated platform for the registration of drilling agencies and to address various departmental problems.