CM inaugurates Water Conservation & Enhancement Scheme in Doiwala
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 14 Jun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Water Conservation and Enhancement Scheme at the head of the Jaoli Canal located on the left bank of the Song River in Doiwala Block under the Water Conservation Campaign in Kaluwala (Doiwala) here today. This scheme of water conservation and enhancement has been completed by the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARA) under the NABARD head at a cost of about Rs 3.80 crores. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also released guidelines for the Water Conservation Campaign 2024. The Chief Minister also planted a sapling on this occasion.
Cabinet ministers Satpal Maharaj and Subodh Uniyal were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami stressed that everyone will have to make efforts together to conserve and enhance water availability in the state and insisted that, for this, along with the efforts of the government, public participation is also required. He added that Uttarakhand has invaluable water resources such as naulas, dharas, springs and rivers. However, all the people will have to take a pledge that the water and youth of the mountain should be used for the state only. He said that where water flows, life also thrives. There is a need to solve the challenges of the future with the revival of the past. Describing the initiative of water conservation as a significant issue related to life, the CM warned that if water ends, life will also end.
Dhami said that water crisis remains a challenge for the whole world. Water sources are getting depleted due to uncontrolled use. The objective of Water Conservation Week is to make every person aware of importance of water management. The Chief Minister said that the state government is serious about water conservation. Various departments are being included for water conservation. ‘SARA’ has been formed with the aim of giving more strength to these efforts. About 500 drinking water schemes and 200 water streams have been identified by SARA, and serious efforts are being made to revive them. He said that oak trees which store water are decreasing in number and, as a result, incidents of fire are increasing. He said that to keep the future generation safe, there is an urgent need to plant trees on a large scale for the conservation of water and forests.
The Chief Minister said that the road connecting Jolly Grant to Kaluwala will be constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD). The left bank of the Song River behind Baba Kalusiddh Temple will also be developed as a tourist destination. Before reaching the programme site, CM Dhami visited Kalu Siddh Temple and offered prayers there.
Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj said that water sources are continuously drying up due to climate change at the global level. The scheme for water conservation and augmentation which has been inaugurated today, will irrigate the fields of about 6 thousand villagers of Kaluwala, Barowala, Bharuwala, Bhangnala and Jolly Grant. He said that due to the far-sighted thinking of the Chief Minister, an authority for conservation of water sources has been formed in Uttarakhand. Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal said that water conservation and augmentation is not possible only with government efforts. Public participation is necessary in this. Everyone has to use water judiciously. The temperatures are rising rapidly each year and at the same time, the water level is decreasing. There is a need to take up water conservation on a mission mode. On this occasion, local MLA Brij Bhushan Gairola, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan, Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli, Dr R Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, ‘SARA’ Neena Grewal and all the District Magistrates were present on a virtual basis.
