The Times of India 25.04.2013
Desilting increases 7.5 mcft of storage capacity in water bodieswater
The desilting exercise carried out in percolation tanks, ponds and
other water bodies in various parts of the district has led to a
significant increase in the water storage capacity, which will help
raise the ground water table.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The data of four
tehsils shows that the capacity of water storage has increased by 7.5
million cubic feet (mcft),” resident deputy collector Jitendra Kakusthe
said.
Under the MNREGA, the desilting work in reservoirs close
to the villages has also been undertaken to help create employment for
the villagers.
The total number of works undertaken in 89 gram panchayats in 2012-13 was 1,333 at the cost of Rs 8.32 crore.
“Of these 1,333 works, about 70% are nearing completion. The data
collected from four tehsils shows that three projects in Dindori were
completed, excavating 1.75 lakh brass of silt and creating a water
storage capacity of 2.06 mcft.,” Kakusthe said.
Kakusthe added:
“In Yeola tehsil, three works were completed in 2012-13, while 57 are
going on. Some of them are nearing completion. The silt excavated from
the ponds amounted to 1.76 brass, leading to enhancement of water
storage capacity by 2.07 mcft.”
Nandgaon tehsil reported
excavation of 1.22 lakh brass of silt, enhancing the storage capacity by
1.43 mcft and Chandwad reported 1.7 lakh brass of silt excavation
adding 2 mcft of water storage capacity.
“The increase in water
storage capacity was aimed at strengthening the local sources of water.
The silt removed from the water bodies was dumped in nearby farms or
used for temporary construction activity. Desiltation will help arrest
the problem of water runoff and will also aid in percolation, thereby
recharging the ground water table,” Kakusthe added.
The
administration expected an increase of a total of 25 mcft of water
storage capacity in the region through such means by the end of May, an
official from employment guarantee scheme said.
* Increase in water storage capacity: 7.5 million cubic feet (mcft)
* Number of works undertaken in 2012-13: 1,333
* Total cost: Rs 8.32 crore
Tehsil Slit excavated Increase in storage capacity
Dindori 2.06 mcft 1.75 lakh brass
Yeola 2.07 mcft 1.76 brass
Nandgaon 1.43 mcft 1.22 lakh brass
Chandwad 2 mcft 1.7 lakh brass