DHAMTARI,CG,BHARAT: In a significant step towards water conservation, the villagers of Kanharpuri in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district have demonstrated the true essence of self-governance under Panchayat Raj.

Responding to a national survey that listed Dhamtari as one of 150 water-depleted districts in India, the district administration launched efforts to address water scarcity by transforming local ponds into Amrit Sarovars, significantly enhancing water retention.

One of the key successes is the rejuvenation of the Mura pond in Kanharpuri Gram Panchayat. Spread across nine acres, the pond’s deepening has increased its water retention capacity from 32,400 cubic meters to 57,800 cubic meters, with the depth expanded from 10 feet to 15 feet. This initiative has not only recharged groundwater but also revived nearly 50 acres of agricultural land, benefiting local farmers.

The project, executed under a collaboration between the Gram Panchayat and the South Eastern Central Railway (SECR), provided a dual benefit. SECR, while laying a broad gauge railway track between Raipur and Dhamtari, extracted soil and laterite from the Mura pond and paid a royalty of Rs 12.20 lakh to the Panchayat. These funds are earmarked for further village development projects.

Dharm Singh, Zila Panchayat Project Officer for MGNREGA, praised the initiative as a cost-efficient win-win solution. "Manual excavation would have cost Rs 30 lakh, but the partnership with SECR reduced the cost to Rs 12 lakh, benefiting both the Panchayat and the railway project."

Dhamtari Collector Namrata Gandhi credited the project’s success to efficient resource use and proactive administration, aligning with the Central Government’s water conservation focus under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo commended the district’s efforts, calling on other districts to follow suit in implementing water and soil conservation schemes. The Amrit Sarovar project in Dhamtari has proposed 121 water bodies for the district, with 102 already completed and the remaining 19 in progress. The initiative is part of a broader state effort to combat water scarcity, supported by programs like Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT.

Kanharpuri's Sarpanch, Parvati Sinha, highlighted the villagers' role in protecting the rejuvenated pond, maintaining biodiversity, and promoting self-governance, ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources in the region.