People must convert every drop of rainwater into groundwater to prevent drought, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said while participating in the Neeru-Pragathi workshop here on Saturday.
The Neeru-Pragathi was one of the programmes launched to conserve groundwater in view of the State like the other parts of the country is facing drought and it should be conducted with sincerity and farm ponds should be created in every village, “at least 100 in each village” Mr. Naidu said. Though there was less rainfall last year, better rainfall was predicted during this year and the rainwater must be turned into groundwater, he said.
The groundwater level has to be increased since one metre rise would result in 90 tmcft quantity of additional water. In this respect, he wanted the people’s representatives and officials to convince farmers of small land holdings to spare a few cents in their for farm ponds so that it would benefit them later. Every house must have a percolation tank and money was not a problem for all these structures, he assured.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Naidu said the State Government was taking all measures to improve supply of drinking and irrigation water. For the first time in the country AP achieved river-linkage, through the Pattiseema project between the Godavari and the Krishna, and the Polavaram project would take up the needs of Visakhapatnam. Meanwhile he wanted 800 tanks to be developed under the basins of eight rivers in the district and groundwater strengthened.
Earlier, Collector N. Yuvaraj gave a power point presentation on the situation in the district. Deputy Chief Minister N. China Rajappa, Ministers Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Prattipati Pulla Rao, Palle Raghuntha Reddy and Kimidi Mrunalini, ZPP Chairperson Lalam Bhavani and others attended along with president of State Federation of Water Users Associations and Member of State Apex Committee Alla Gopalakrishna.
The government is taking all measures to improve supply of drinking and irrigation water.
N. Chandrababu Naidu
Chief Minister