Riding on the success of rejuvenating Vedavathi river in the Western Ghats, the State government has now allocated funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) for rejuvenation of two more rivers — Palar and Kumudavathi.
Construction of check-dams, recharge wells, tanks and plantation programme along the Vedavathi in Chikkamagaluru district has increased groundwater in hundreds of villages and recharged borewells, claims authorities of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department.
Now, a similar model has been adopted to revive Palar river, which flows in Chickballapur and Kolar districts (93 km in the State) and Kumudavathi river, a tributary to Arkavathi river. Kumudavathi river is a major source for Thippagondanahalli reservoir, one of the sources for drinking water to Bengaluru city.
An RDPR official said Rs. 18 crore each has been sanctioned for rejuvenating Palar and Kumudavathi rivers, both of which flow in drought-prone districts. The major focus areas of the two projects will be recharging of groundwater, prevention of soil erosion and plantation of samplings.
Besides workers under MNREGA, volunteers under the banner of Vaikthi Vikas Kendra, which was part of the Art of Living, have taken up the project to rejuvenate both rivers by involving people from villages and members and office-bearers of gram panchayats. Members of the taluk and zilla panchayats in districts and officials of the RDRPR have been supporting the execution of the projects.
Using satellite imagery, a water body map of both river regions was drawn by a technical team. Subsequently, the location for the water-harvesting structures such as percolation wells, injection wells, boulder checks and water ponds were identified, the officials said.
Vaikthi Vikas Kendra, which is the nodal agency to implement the project, has prepared a detailed project plan and created a village awareness campaign and group interaction in villages to ensure people’s participation.
Rs. 18 crore each sanctioned for Palar, Kumudavathi rivers
