Groundwater level sees a rise in non-desert areas’

In a step that could make the farmers smile, the government said that there has been a 4.66 feet increase in groundwater in the non-desert region across the state with works being carried out under the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Yojana (MJSA).

Shriram Vadire, chairman of the Rajasthan River Basin and Water Resources Planning Authority, said that in the first phase of the campaign, water conservation works were initiated in 3,529 villages of all the 295 Panchayat Samitis in 33 districts on January 27, 2016. Till June 30, 2016, more than 95,000 water conservation works were completed.

The works effectively increased water level and water supply required for the masses, which reduced the number of tankers engaged in supplying water.

“In the affected areas, tankers supply of water has been reduced by 56 per cent. Similarly, out of the total defunct handpumps, 63.64 per cent pumps started working and pumping water with the recharged groundwater. Moreover, 19.72 per cent defunct tube wells were resurrected as well,” said Vaidire.

The chairman claims that agriculture activities were boosted with the campaign which directly benefited the peasant community in Rajasthan. “The agricultural activities got a fillip with the construction of 95,000 water conservation structures in 46879 hectare, whereas 23.88% open wells have been revived. ”

He said that with positive effect of the campaign, 628.6 million cubic feet of water increased in the ground water and as a result of water conservation activities, 45 lakh livestock and 41 lakh rural people have also benefited from the accumulated water.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had released a book on the campaign , which bears positive effect on the land and agriculture sector.