Tewari's work inspired govt to start Kere Sanjeevini scheme

The death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tewari brought shock and grief to the people of Bidar on Wednesday.

For, the 36-year-old officer had worked as the deputy commissioner of the district for a period of 18 months and had taken several steps to recharge groundwater in this backward district.

The body of the 2007 batch IAS officer was found lying on a road under mysterious circumstances near Meerbai guesthouse in Hazratgunj of Lucknow on Wednesday morning.

Tewari assumed charge as Bidar deputy commissioner in June 2015, when the district was reeling under severe drought. A no-nonsense officer, Tewari got into the basics of water problem and took up a series of works to recharge groundwater . He initiated desilting of scores of open wells constructed in and around Bidar during the rule of Bahamani and Barid Shahi rulers.

Fertile soil distributed

Similarly, desilting of around 120 minor and major percolation tanks located in the district was taken up to recharge the groundwater. Fertile soil lifted from the lake beds during the dredging of tanks was distributed among farmers free of cost to improve nutritional quotient of soil. This had received overwhelming response from farmers and general public.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a visit to Aurad taluk to inspect desilting of tanks had praised the efforts of Tewari. Later, the state government took up such work in different parts of the state under the name of ‘Kere Sanjeevini’ scheme.

Tewari’s another initiative to harness tourism potential of the district was also remarkable. He drew plans for the development of tourist circuit in Hyderabad-Karnataka region and stress was laid on connecting historical and pilgrimage places.

He had also put in major plans to clear the path of century-old subterranean water canal known as Karez system. The government had sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the
project.