JOIN USNoting the severe depletion in groundwater levels at Jayapura hobli in the district, Deputy Commissioner C Shikha said that Gopalapura village of the hobli has been selected as a pilot village to improve ground water levels.
Speaking at the “Hamara Jal, Hamara Jeevan” workshop organised jointly by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the district administration, she said that several villages of the hobli are being supplied water in tankers for the past 25 years.
Therefore, programmes and schemes to improve ground water levels will be first taken up in the hobli and will be extended to other regions of the district, she said.
There was no cases of flouride contamination of water in the district. However, in some places the concentration of nitrite levels in water is above prescribed standards.
Steps should be taken to prevent the contamination and an action plan should be formulated for the same, she said.
Assistance is being provided for the construction of percolation pits, bunds and check dams to recharge ground water, she said. In those regions where water is sufficient, it is judiciously not being used by either misused or wasted, while people are forced to walk for kilometres to fetch water..
Deputy Director of the Ministry, J Harsha said that the Centre has prioritised works for the rejuvenation of ground water level and to ensure access to potable water. Various programmes for the same will be implemented in all districts, he said.
Task forces
In another meeting chaired by Zilla Panchayat president, Pushpa Amarnath, officials were instructed to ensure that people are not affected by the shortage of water.
She said that task forces, under the chairmanship of local MLAs has been formed and Rs 45 lakh has been sanctioned to each of the constituency to tackle water crisis. Villagers, if affected by water scarcity, should contact the local tahsildar or other officials concerned, to ensure water supply, she added.