DC Jmu reviews implementation of Jal Shakti Abhiyan,emphasizes on tapping rainwater, afforestation

Jammu: Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar Monday convened a meeting regarding “Jal Shakti Abhiyan”, a water conservation campaign initiated by Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Highlighting the main provisions of the scheme, DC said Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a time bound, mission mode campaign which aims at water conservation and water security to improve conditions in drought affected, water stressed or over-exploited areas.
Laying the road map for achieving the goals under JSA, Kumar stressed that water conservation and water security in the district can be achieved through rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional water bodies/tanks, bore-well recharge structures, watershed area development, and intensive afforestation which is the main area in which targeted activities shall be undertaken.
Kumar further impressed upon the officers for development of additional water conservation structures, desilting and cleaning of wells for collection of rain water, construction of rain water harvesting structures at Panchayat level including Panchayat buildings, public schools, public health centres including other government buildings.
While highlighting the role of citizen partnership in the campaign, Deputy Commissioner emphasized on rain water harvesting at household level besides removal of encroachment, de-silting to increase tanks and wells storage capacity through community participation and awareness generation. “These water conservation efforts will also be supplemented with special interventions including the development of Block and District Water Conservation Plans, promotion of efficient water use for irrigation and better choice of crops” he added.
Giving emphasis on afforestation, DC asked the officers to plant maximum trees as these play a vital role in water conservation and water retention in the soil. “Trees play an important role in intercepting precipitation in the foliage, absorbing and filtering water that infiltrates into the soil,” he added. He asked the officials to prioritize planting of low water demanding indigenous tree species.
He stressed upon the officers of concerned departments to work together by synchronizing efforts with an aim to make water conservation and promotion of irrigation efficiency a mass movement through asset creation and communication participation campaigns.
Among others Chief Planning Officer Yoginder Katoch, SDMs, Deputy Director Planning, BDOs and other senior officers of the concerned department were present in the meeting.