The Hindu 07.04.2017
New watershed mission in Tiruvannamalai
Water conservation:A gabion check dam being constructed across a
watercourse in Thumbakkadu, a tribal village, located on the foothills
of Jawadu Hills.Special Arrangement
Collector orders construction of 1,000 gabion check dams
A new watershed mission conceived by Collector Prashant M. Wadnere
has been launched in Tiruvannamalai district aimed at giving an impetus
to the ground water table once the rain begins.
Mr. Wadnere said
that 10,000 gabion check dams with recharge pits would be constructed
across water courses in the district. At present, sanction for 1,000
such structures has been given and they would be constructed at an
estimated cost of Rs. 9.25 crore.
In each structure, small rough
boulders would be stacked (without mortar) into a retaining wall/check
dam across the stream/water course, that are dry now. The stacked
boulders would be tied using a mesh in order to prevent the structure
from getting washed away by the stream. Near each wall a recharge pit
would be dug. Every pit will contain a 50-feet-deep bore well.
When
it rains the gabion walls would retain water for some time/ slow the
course in order to help water to percolate and improve water table. The
recharge pits with bore well would play supportive role and directly
take water to the depth of 50 feet in order to recharge the water table.
Construction of 32 gabion structures is already over. Construction of
structures in other identified places is being expedited.
Sources
said that mission has been synchronised with Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Labour force that is
estimated to take 40% cost of the project would be drawn from the
MGNREGS. Remaining 60% cost would be spent on materials including mesh
and boulders, digging bore wells etc.
Mr. Wadnere called upon the
people to volunteer and donate their labour in construction of such
dams. Those willing to volunteer would be given training in the
Collectorate every Saturday. To symbolise the importance of voluntary
participation of people in the mission, Mr. Wadnere physically
participated in the construction of one such structure in Thumbakkadu, a
tribal village, located on the foothills of Jawadu Hills.
In each structure, small rough boulders would be stacked into a retaining wall
Prashant M. Wadnere,
Tiruvannamalai Collector