Centre selects Bilaspur, Surajpur distts for National Water Award
| Date :29-Oct-2020 |
Staff Reporter :
RAIPUR,
Chhattisgarh has achieved another major achievement under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as the Central Government has short-listed Bilaspur district for works done for the renovation of river/drains and Surajpur district for the water conservation works. Both these districts have ranked first among the best districts in the country in their respective categories. Bilaspur district has been selected in the East Region under Revival of River category and Surajpur district, also in the East Region under Water Conservation category.
The National Water Award for the year 2019 will be given in November, 2020 to both the districts for the conservation and promotion of water sources by the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Under the Narva programme, an important component of the ambitious Suraji Village Scheme of Chhattisgarh Government, a large number of rivers and drains are being conserved and promoted in all districts of State. Accordingly, 47 structures were constructed in various rivers and drains in Bilaspur district and 17.508 million cubic metres of water-logging capacity was created and up to 152 kilometre, water availability was ensured in rivers and drains. With this, 49 small reservoir schemes are under construction in the district that will create 48.53 million cubic metres of water-logging capacity, which will be charged in the 181 kilometre long river and drains.
The total length of the 13 main rivers and drains including local drains flowing in Bilaspur district is 2352.56 km. In this, the Water Resources Department has constructed one large, one medium and 165 small reservoirs and 117 anicut. The Department has revived a total of 1146.90 km of rivers and drains, 284 structures have been built in these river-channels, out of which 13 in Kharang River, 5 in Shivnath, 13 in Lilagar, 17 in Arpa, 12 in Son River, 8 in Maniyari River, 12 in Ghulagha Nala, 5 in Gokna Nala. Small reservoirs and anicuts have been constructed at Tungan Nala, 3 at Narmada Nala, 3 at Champi Nala, 4 at Alan Nala, 5 at Jevas Nala and 181 at local drains.
Similarly, Dabri Mahabhiyan programme was launched to conserve water in Surajpur district and raise the level of ground water in which structures like Loose Boulder Check Dam were constructed to revive the beneficiary-oriented Dabri, the well-known small drains in addition to the well. About 7,000 Dabri and 4,200 wells have been built in the last two years under the Dabri Mahabhiyan generating scope for irrigating approximately 18,000 acres of land. The work of reviving small and large drains was started in the last two years. Structures like 29 earthen dams, 57 stop dams, 10 under-ground dykes and 10,000 contour trenches were constructed, due to which irrigation potential has been increased in about 12,000 hectare land and underground water-level has also increased.