- Special cooperation from Art of Living
- Our Ganga-Our Vena plans to be implemented
- Irrigation capacity of Ukhadi village to be enhanced
- Trees to be planted on the banks of the canals
Nagpur,.
With the launch the ambitious integrated water conservation and management initiative Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan (providing villages with permanent source of water) all the existing schemes of water conservation is slated to be accumulated under this scheme in an attempt to end the drought situation in the state.
The State Chief Secretary Swadin Kshatriya visited villages in Hingna Tehsil to review this initiative of integrated water conservation and management initiative Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan. This canal meanders a distance of 25 kilometers. The work of widening and deepening the canals was recently undertaken. While lauding the efforts and the work done so far, State Chief Secretary Swadin Kshatriya said that this will prove to be an exemplary one for other drought prone states to follow.
During his visit, State Chief Secretary Swadin Kshatriya inaugurated the work of widening and deepening the existing irrigation canals in Ukhadi, Kini (Dhanoli), Khair, Nanda, Junewadi villages of Hingna Tehsil.
This project is said to be the joint venture of Mahatma Jyotiba Fule Land and Water Campaign, Art of Living-Nagpur, Datta Meghe Foundation and Zilla Parishad Nagpur.
Those present on the occasion include Municipal Commissioner Anup Kumar, District Collector Abhishek Krishna, Chief Executive Officer Shivajirao Jhondhale, Sharma, Manish Badhiyani of Art of Living-Nagpur, Deputy Director of Agriculture Department Dr Vijay Ghavte, District Superintendent of Agriculture Dr Archana Kadu, Executive Engineer Suresh Giri, Sub-Divisional Engineer G K Rao, Additional Commissioner Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Hemant Kumar Pawar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Employment Guarantee Scheme Kamlakar Futane and others.
Present state of Amchi Ganga-Amchi Vena concept
To begin with, the State Chief Secretary Swadin Kshatriya started his visit with Kini (Dhanoli) village. He inspected the widening and the deepening work and expressed his satisfaction with the work done so far. Deputy Sarpanch Vinod Umredkar briefed State Chief Secretary Swadin Kshatriya about the on-going work in the village.
The concept of Amchi Ganga-Amchi Vena was implemented by the Art of Living’s Social Work Wing in Hingna Tehsil. The five canals in Kini (Dhanoli) village will be merged with the Vena River.
From the start to the end, the canal meanders a distance of about 25 kilometers in length. The water flowing in the canal flourishes by irrigating the farms land of all the villages it passes through. The sand and the sediments dredged from the bottom of the canals are allowed to be taken by the villagers for other construction works etc. The planning for this integrated water conservation and management was done by Zilla Parishad Nagpur. The diesel used by the excavated JCB to remove sediments and sand from the bottom of the canals is borne by the government, claimed CEO Shivajirao Jhondade.
Sarpanch of Junewadi village Mamta Bondale and Deputy Sarpanch Gopal Baviskar briefed State Chief Secretary Swadin Kshatriya about the work carried out in the village. They claimed that this integrated water conservation and management work should be sustained and continued since this will help in increasing the water level. They also demanded that trees should be planted on the banks of the canals.
Irrigation Capacity to be enhanced in Ukhadi Village
There was a proposal to make strong bunds in around 280 hectares land in Ukhadi village. An estimate proposal of Rs 16.15 lakhs was mooted. A proposal of building 9 cement weirs was also mooted. Around 45 lakhs is slated to be spent on this water conservation project. The Minor Irrigation Water Conservation Department will be erecting two cement and concrete walled canals. The work of widening and deepening work in the existing canals is already accomplished. An amount of Rs 21.95 lakhs have been spent on this project. From this integrated water conservation and management, approximately 40-45 TCM (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) water storage capacity will be achieved. This water conservation will enhance the water level in the wells situated in nearby villages. There will be a significant increase in the irrigation for Rabbi Crops. Significant progress is also seen in many villagers erecting personal bunds on their farm lands. These bunds prevent the water from flowing off and the fertile rich soil from flowing out.
This year the crops on the farms in Ukhali village are as follows:
Wheat was grown on 30 Hectares
- Green Grams was grown on 12 Hectares
- Oranges was grown on 3.60 Hectares
- Sweet Lime was grown on 1Hectare
- Vegetables were grown on 8 Hectares
- Flowers were grown on 1 Hectare
- Sugar-cane was grown on 3 Hectares
This widening and deepening work of the canals and the erection of weirs, dams and bunds will increase the irrigation of the farm lands, which in-turn will yield better produce.
Deputy Divisional Agriculture Officer Vijay Nimje, Tehsildar Raju Ranbir, Block Development Officer Jiwane, Ratnakar, Yewle, Sanjay Bhagat, Shinde, Kalsarpe, Kawarpure, Kumari Kene, Raut, Chiwane, Dawle, Gulhane, Atule and others were also present.
