The ‘Four Waters’ concept developed by irrigation expert late T. Hanumantha Rao has been gaining momentum.
In a move that would change the water conservation scenario in the State, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched ‘Water is life (Jal Jeevan Hai)’ training for ‘Jal Doot’ volunteers who in turn train villagers. The focus is more on villages where groundwater was over exploited.
The ‘four water’ concept (ground, surface, soil moisture and rainwater) will be the basis for water campaign by volunteers and six methods will be adopted by volunteers ‘to catch the rain where it falls’ and to conserve each drop of water.
The methods include soak pit in every rural household, farm pond in every farmer’s field, tank renovation and silt application, water conservation - drip and sprinklers to all farmers, renovation and recharge - farm trenches, well recharge and awareness on Crop Water Budgeting (cropping pattern based on water resources).
The 50 volunteers of various NGOs act as ‘Jal Doots’ to take up massive water campaign in 600 villages by organising meetings with farmers, SHG members, Gram Panchayat and educate them to take up various recharge/water harvesting structures.
The programme was formally launched by Telangana Water Resources Development Corporation (TWRDC) Chairman V. Prakash Rao here on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering Mr. Prakash Rao said that conservation and harvesting of water is duty of every citizen and State Government has taken up short, medium and long-term measures to exploit and conserve water resources of the State.
He called upon all departments to work in tandem to achieve desired results under Water Campaign. He urged each volunteer to be a ‘Water Warrior’ for developing water resources of the District/State.
The campaign is designed and being implemented by the NABARD and the Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
“The campaign focuses on the important theme of water and agriculture with emphasis on the need for water conservation, preservation and its efficient management. Key sub-themes include rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge efficient technologies and practices for water management, agronomic practices, community-level techniques and technologies and initiatives for hilly areas,” said NABARD Assistant General Manager G. Ramesh Kumar.
He indicated that the requests for various water harvesting/ conservation structures received during the campaign by volunteers will be linked to departments to facilitate construction of structures.
Joint Collector S. Padmakar, Water & Livelihood Foundation (CWC) ED Rama Mohan, Water Technology Centre Director Avil Kumar, of Agriculture University, were also present.
