Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar today launched Integrated Watershed Management Programme in Block Dansal by laying the foundation of Entry Point Activities at village Suketar (Domail) in Dansal, here today.
Ministers of State for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Technical Education, Vikar Rasool and MLC, Devender Singh Rana were also present on the occasion.
The IWMP Project for the Dansal has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 7.34 crore.
Mr. Sagar complimented the people of Dansal on getting this prestigious watershed development project and enjoined upon the Panchayat representatives to extend their whole hearted support in implementing the project plan so that the objectives of rain harvesting conservation and socio-economic upliftment of the small and marginal farmers are met.
He also exhorted upon the officers to work in close coordination to facilitate the execution of the project works in a convergence mode with MGNERGA, NBA and other schemes. He said this would help in creating dependable infrastructure to make various farming in the area a profitable activity.
He disclosed that the Government was looking forward to start IWMP project in all the rain fed areas of the State in a phased manner, adding that the areas with least drinking water/irrigation potential besides high percentage of BPL and SC/ST population and degraded areas have been taken in the first instance.
Rs 2300 crore IWMP project for the State to be implemented over a period of three years, targets treatment of all the rain fed areas in a phased manner, he informed.
He said that proper rainwater harvesting, the major component of the project, was vital to arrest the groundwater decline, conserve surface water run-off during monsoon, and reduce soil erosion and to inculcate the culture of water conservation. This conserved rainwater during the monsoon period can be put to agriculture and domestic use during the stress period which can provide supplementary and life saving irrigation, he said, adding that the storage tanks to be developed can also serve the purpose of percolation and recharging of ground water and the problem of portable water can also be redressed.
Speaking the occasion, Vikar Rasool said that project would go a long way in mitigating the water-scarcity problems of this tough and hilly terrains.
Devender Singh Rana lauded the role of the department for sanctioning watershed project in the area and asked the people to work in close coordination with the implementing agencies so that the very spirit of rainwater harvesting may work wonders for these dry areas. He said the people of the area were facing water scarcity over the years adding that with the completion of this project, the same will be mitigated providing much relief to them.
CEO, SLNA gave a detailed resume of the implementation of the Integrate Watershed Management Programme in the State and said that after the constitution of SLNA, preliminary project reports of hundreds of projects have been prepared and sent to Department of land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development GOI for funding.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Project Officer Watershed Jammu Suram Chand Sharma dwelt in detail on the activities being taken up under the IWMP Projects in the district in general and block Dansal in particular.
Director Rural Development, Jammu S.A Raina, ADDC Jammu Rehana Batul, Additional DC Jammu Ravi Shanker Sharma, Chairman SLNA for Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) J&K State Dr. G.H.Shah, Tech. Experts G.H. Naqash, Sarpanchs & Panchs and Panchayat Adalat Members, besides a largely number of local people were present.
On the occasion, Mr. Sagar also distributed cheques among beneficiaries under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.
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