Amravati civic body plans Rs 2.5 crore water conservation drive, Rs 50 lakh sanctioned under AMRUT-2

As the shadow of drought deepens over Amravati district, the Amravati Municipal Corporation has begun preparing now for the water scarcity ahead. The corporation has drawn up a Rs 2.5 crore water conservation plan. Its aim is to stop rain water from running off, let it seep into the ground, increase the water storage capacity of public wells and raise the groundwater level in the city.

Technical guidance for the work will be taken from IIT Roorkee. A fund of Rs 50 lakh has also been sanctioned under the Centre's AMRUT-2 scheme. Water supply in the city is under control for now, but the corporation administration has stressed water conservation, reasoning that scarcity could set in later. Measures to protect existing water sources, make maximum use of rain water and raise the groundwater level will be taken ward by ward.

The municipal area currently has 214 public wells, 4,060 hand pumps and 590 electric hand pumps. At least two public wells in every ward will be desilted and recharged. This will increase their water storage capacity and make them usable by people again. Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked for each zone for this work, and the tender process has been completed.

Work orders will soon be issued to the agencies concerned. A fund of Rs 2 crore has been made available for these works from the 15th Finance Commission. Separately, rain water harvesting systems will be installed in a scientific manner on vacant land at 11 open grounds and gardens in the city. Water that would otherwise run off during the monsoon will be channelled into the ground through the system to build up groundwater reserves. IIT Roorkee's help will be taken so that the system is effective and technically sound.

The corporation's effort rests on three things: holding water, letting it seep into the ground, and reviving existing water sources. The plan is to reduce the risk of future scarcity through these. If the measures are properly carried out, the city's groundwater level could rise and it could also help in tackling the summer shortage.

The corporation is placing particular emphasis on letting rain water seep into the ground instead of flowing away, recharging public wells and making existing water sources usable again. The administration has set the goal of reducing the severity of future scarcity through these steps. Suhas Chavan, executive engineer-2 of the corporation, gave the details.