The Hindu : Naidu wants people to take up water conservation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Naidu wants people to take up water conservation

By Our Staff Reporter

LEPAKSHI (ANANTAPUR Dt.) APRIL 7. Harvesting rainwater and conservation of groundwater can solve most of the problems in rural areas, the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said at Kanchisamudram village near here today while participating in the `Jala Chaitanyam' programme. He appealed to the people to take up water conservation on a massive scale.

Addressing a gram sabha organised as part of the `Jala Chaitanyam,' the Chief Minister observed that water is social property and some individuals should not exploit it. Instead, everyone should have equal right on the natural resource. He suggested farmers to develop micro basins by making optimum use of rainwater -- surface storage and percolation.

He expressed concern that a majority of land in areas like Anantapur had no contours, plantation and tanks enabling wastage of rainwater. He said the depletion of the groundwater table is alarming in several areas including in Anantapur district due to poor percolation of rainwater.

Works like restoration of dilapidated tanks, desiltation of tanks and supply channels and strengthening of water bodies taken up three years ago under the Neeru-Meeru programme could not show good results due to deficient rainfall. Anantapur district had recorded normal rainfall only once during the last five years, he said.

Mr. Naidu was criss-crossing the State often to enlighten the people on the conservation of water, and appealed to everyone to cooperate with the Government in conservation of rainwater.

Earlier, immediately after landing, the Chief Minister inspected desiltation of a supply channel to the Lepakshi tank. The labourers executing the works urged Mr. Naidu to hike the cubic meter rate from Rs. 30 as the soil was very hard and they could dig it only after wetting. He said that he would examine their plea.

A few farmers sported black flags at the tank seeking wage work. Congress activists tried to block the convoy in protest against the issuance of G.O. 94 but they were immediately whisked away by the police into a police van. The police arrested few CPI activists at Hindupur when they were on their way to the CM's programme.

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