Water harvesting pond brings respite to 4 villages in Reasi

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, July 27: A water harvesting pond developed by the Rural Development Department in Dawado area has brought respite to 4 villages having 1797 population.
The Reasi administration has far long been promoting water harvesting to meet the water needs in the water distressed areas.
Under the harvesting mission, the administration has taken up construction of new farm ponds, restoration of traditional water bodies like natural springs under MNREGA. The move has helped to serve two purposes of creating valuable public assets and generate wage days for the locals. The farmers use the harvested water from the ponds for household use, to grow crops and meet requirements of cattle.
On the direction of District Development Commissioner Reasi Indu Kanwal Chib, Rural Development Department formulated a comprehensive plan for water harvesting in hilly district so that the problem of water shortage met out.
The department identified a location in Poni Block for construction of a pond to address the problem of water scarcity in the area. The department started construction of a pond in Dadowa Panchayat Dadowa under MGNREGA. Halqa Dadowa consists of four revenue villages having a population of 1797.
With the construction of the pond, the inhabitants no longer need to walk miles to fetch water. The pond is also being used for livestock, beside for agriculture purposes.
Moreover, the water collected during the rainy season will also improve water level.
Taking up MGNREGA works amid lockdown also helped to provide work to the locals in the process of construction of pond and to imbibe a sense of responsibility among them towards the water bodies.