LUCKNOW: With focus on improving the groundwater table, the minor irrigation department has completed as many as 23 check dams and 12 ponds in the state capital in the last four and a half years. The result: improved water table has been recorded in Chinhat and Sarojininagar blocks, resulting in regular supply of water for irrigation leading to better crop yield.
With the groundwater level in the two blocks of Chinhat and Sarojininagar having registered a major dip over the years pushing the area to ‘over-exploited’ category the minor irrigation department took up the task of improving the water table in the area in particular along with eight other development blocks of Lucknow. As a part of a well drafted project, the department encouraged rainwater harvesting in the areas and planting saplings during the statewide plantation drives over the years. As a result, 20,93,581 saplings were planted in the two blocks alone and water harvesting plants were planted in 446 government and semi-government buildings in the rural as well as the urban areas.
According to Lavlesh Singh, former gram pradhan of Papanamau panchayat, Chinhat, “The increasing exploitation of water and the falling groundwater level was the major concern of the Chinhat area. With the efforts of the
government, rainwater harvesting is starting to pay off.” Poonam Singh, former gram pradhan of Uttargaunasaid less water-consuming methods like drip and sprinkler systems have been promoted in agriculture resulting in reduction in consumption of water.In the current year, the department has completed the construction of 23 check dams and 12 ponds in Lucknow.
