JOIN USRevival of tanks under MGNREGS from today
The programme to revive as many as 157 tanks and 164 ponds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will begin across the district on Wednesday.
One pond and one tank has been selected from each of the 156 gram panchayats in the district for the Rs 22.17-crore project.
However, more than one water bodies have been chose for the project in some taluks. Apart from tanks and ponds, it has also been planned to construct gokunte and minor ponds at selected locations.
Revival each tank is estimated to cost Rs 10 lakh each while it has been proposed to spend Rs two lakh to Rs five lakh for rejuvenation of ponds. The Zilla Panchayat has prepared a detailed project report.
“In a recent meeting, the principal secretary to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department had directed district administrations to take up revival of water bodies under job guarantee scheme. The programme is being launched in pursuance of the direction,” Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer S M Zulfikarulla told Deccan Herald.
Individuals who have enrolled themselves seeing job under MGNREGS will be roped into execute the project. The work will be carried on as per the rule - 100 mandays of work per year at the wage of Rs 174 per day. There is also a provision to spend more than the stipulated amount of money for the project, the CEO added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his budget speech, had proposed to revive 12,000 tanks across the State in the first phase. A schedule of work was prepared accordingly.
Water bodies have been identified for rejuvenation and their survey has already been conducted. The encroachment on tanks and ponds too have been cleared.
Now, desilting of tanks and construction of steps - measures to restore the water bodies - will be taken up. The work is expected to increase the storage capacity of tanks. An enclosure will be constructed around the tanks to protect them from encroachment and check misuse of water stored therein.
The notable feature is that in some gram panchayats, restoration of gokunte (a structure which holds water for cattle) has been taken up. It has also been proposed to construct of more gokunte in some villages.
The CEO disclosed that the gokunte in Doni Madugu, Doddavalagamadi, Kyasamballi, Magondi, Ramasagar, Guttur, Vengasandra, Kotaramagolla, Kanganallur, Lakkenahalli and Ketaganahalli of Bangarpet taluk will be revived.
New gokunte will be constructed in Byrakuru, Kappalamadagu, Kurubarahalli, Kagganahalli, Alanguru, Meleri, Batuvarahalli, Gummakallu, Thirumanahalli, Karavireddyhalli and Honaganahalli of Mulbagal taluk.
The presidents of respective gram panchayats will launch the work on Wednesday, the Gandhi Jayanthi Day. The panchayat development officers have been told to complete the work at the earliest.
The programme will be launched at the taluk level also. Deputy Commissioner D K Ravi will inaugurate the project i Karagattur village of Channasandra gram panchayat in Kolar taluk. The CEO said he will launch the work in Padakashti village of Yemmenatta gram panchayat in Mulbagal taluk.
The work will also begin on tanks in Hurulugere and Madanahatty villages of Nosagere gram panchayat in Malur taluk and Naramakalapalli in Ronur gram panchayat of Srinivaspur taluk.
Temple pond turns into dumping yard
Even as the State government has launched revival of tanks and ponds under MGNREGS, the Venugopalaswamy temple pond at Tekal Circle Kolar has turned into a garbage dump yard.
The previous deputy commissioner D S Vishwanath had promised to develop the temple pond and the work on draining water from the pond was also launched. However, there has been no progress since then. Garbage pile at the precious water body is growing by the day and the area is turning into a public urinal.
Projects details
Taluk Tanks Ponds Estimated cost
* Kolar 36 36 Rs 5.40 cr
* Malur 28 28 Rs 4.20 cr
* Bangarpet 37 37 Rs 5.55 cr
* Mulbagal 31 30 Rs 3.60 cr
* Srinivaspur 25 33 Rs 3.42 cr
TOTAL 157 164 Rs 22.17 cr