By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 8 Aug: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today held a review of the Jalagam (Watershed Management Department) at the Watershed Management Directorate, here. During the meeting, the CM directed the officials to identify two rivers of the state in the initial phase and work towards their revival. He added that, in the first phase, one river should be selected from Garhwal division and the other from Kumaon division. Dhami added that small ponds be also built in areas sensitive to forest fires. For this, he asked them to seek public cooperation. He said that along with the conservation of natural resources, special attention should be given by the Watershed Department towards improving the livelihood of the people.
The Chief Minister told the officials that, while constructing various projects, it should also be assessed whether it is affecting the water sources or not. Work should also be done on the revival of water sources affected by the construction of the projects. He added that Vibrant Villages should also be given priority under the schemes run by the department. The Chief Minister added that externally aided projects should be completed within the stipulated time. Schemes aided by the Central Government should be given top priority. Schemes that have 90 percent central share and 10 percent state share should be expedited. The CM also stated that the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority prepare short and long term treatment plans for the revival of natural water sources and rain-based rivers in the state, valuate and monitor them.
Dhami stated that, for the planning and implementation of watershed development projects, work should be done keeping in mind sustainable water resource management, sustainable land and ecosystem management, climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Effective steps should also be taken in collaboration with the Forest Department to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Along with promoting traditional products, work should also be done to increase the income of farmers through horticulture and agro-forestry activities in cultivable barren land. And greater participation of women should be ensured in watershed schemes.
It was stated during the meeting that the ‘Uttarakhand Climate Friendly Rainfed Agriculture Project’ funded by the World Bank aimed at benefiting mountain agriculture and reduction of greenhouse gases in the micro watershed areas selected in Uttarakhand by the Watershed Department has been approved. This scheme of Rs 1,148 crores will be operated between 2024 and 2030. Under this project, water drainage and soil erosion will be reduced through spring shed management, greenhouse gas will be reduced in the agricultural sector, the income of farmers will be increased by improving the amount of carbon through plantation on rainfed and fallow land and carbon fencing, productivity of rainfed and irrigated crops will also be increased. In addition, agricultural clusters for high value crop production will be established and Agri Business Growth Centre will be established. It was stated that work is underway in three districts of the state, Pauri, Almora and Pithoragarh, under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Watershed Development Component 2.0.
Watershed Management Minister Satpal Maharaj, Vice President, Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vishwas Dawar, Vice President of Watershed Council Ramesh Gadhiya, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram, Special Secretary Dr Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Additional Secretary Namami Bansal, Project Director, Watershed, Neena Grewal and other senior officers of the Watershed Department were also present.
