1,497 new bunds to help save water

The drought-affected state is set to take a step forward in conserving water with the inauguration of 1,497 cement nullah bunds in villages with low rainfall from June 9. The event will be a unique one as all these bunds will be inaugurated simultaneously by political executives from all parties.

The drought-affected state is set to take a step forward in conserving water with the inauguration of 1,497 cement nullah bunds in villages with low rainfall from June 9. The event will be a unique one as all these bunds will be inaugurated simultaneously by political executives from all parties.

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Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, his cabinet colleagues and elected representatives from local self-government bodies will attend the event at different venues. Expecting normal rainfall this year, Chavan said these bunds — his pet project — would go a long way in ending water scarcity in these villages.

The bunds, built two months ago by the water conservation department headed by Chavan’s cabinet colleague and party fellow Nitin Raut, are expected to increase the ground water table and also provide water for minor irrigation and drinking.

Raut told Hindustan Times that many other villages in 15 districts would get 1,825 more bunds later this year. The state has a budget of Rs350 crore for this project.

After setting an ambitious agriculture growth rate of 10 per cent this financial year, Chavan wants to offset the loss that the state has suffered because of prolonged drought in 15 districts last year.

Chavan said the target would not be impossible to meet because of several measures such as micro irrigation, grain development programme and soil health mission.