The Hindu : New Delhi News : Success story of a unique water project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007
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Success story of a unique water project

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: “Aapni Yojana”, a unique drinking water project launched with Germany’s support 13 years ago in Rajasthan’s Churu district, was hailed as the role model in water management for the developing nations at “Pani Panchayat”, a review meeting attended by experts and beneficiaries over the weekend.

At present the project is under way in two cities and 370 villages spread over an area of 20,000 sq km in the districts of Churu, Jhunjhunu and Hanumangarh, integrating water supply, sanitation and health education.

“Aapni Yojana is now a model for experts associated with water management in India and abroad,” said former Rajasthan Chief Secretary M.L. Mehta while addressing the “Pani Panchayat” held for associates of the project from Churu and Hanumangarh in Churu on Sunday.

“Starting with a financial help of Rs.250 crore extended by the German Government in 1994, it has today become the world’s first such project where villagers are taking care of water management, maintenance, bill collection and keeping vigilance on illegal connections,” he said.

Jaipur-based Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Indian Institute of Rural Management, Bikaner’s Urmul Sethu Sansthan, Gandhi Vidya Mandir, Sardarshahar and Bhoruka Charitable Trust are associated with the management of Aapni Yojana.

Mr. Mehta said a proposal would be sent to the State Government suggesting constitution of a Water Federation to coordinate the activities of the pani panchayats.

Rajasthan has 40,000 villages and 60,000 hamlets, but for the first time after 60 years of independence, six villages in Churu district have been selected for the Nirmalgram Award. This could be possible because of the favourable result of integrated water supply sanitation and health education programme launched in the district, he said.

“Aapni Yojana has become a basic document for all the water projects in India and abroad. Whether it is Narmada Yojana in Jalore or Chambal in Sawai Madhopur, over 20 projects in the State, including the Bharatpur project, are being prepared based on Aapni Yojana,” said M. K. M. Joshi, Chief Engineer, Rajasthan Public Health and Engineering Department.

Churu district, which was considered backward on the international map due to scarcity of water, was today emerging as the leading district with the launching of Aapni Yojana, Mr. Joshi pointed out.

IIHMR trustee Ashok Agarwal, who hails from the area, said earlier people of Churu district never cultivated their land due to lack of water and used to keep water under lock and key. With the Yojana, inhabitants of many villages were getting potable water, he said.

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