Maharashtra Youth Cong Steps In To Conserve Water

The Maharashtra Pradesh Nationalist Youth Congress (MPNYC) in a bid to resolve the water shortage situation in the state has begun a game plan that envisages the construction of small dams in every district.

President of MPNCY Ranjit Sinh Mohite Patil said: "We have just completed two such projects in Padtari village in Solapur district (completed in October) at a nominal cost of Rs 1.5 lakh and the labour of 6000 villagers (myself included). The result is a water storage facility having a capacity of 60 lakh litres." Only on Sunday the second such small dam was inaugurated in Osmanabad district by Patil. "The fact is that the acute water shortage in Maharashtra has to be understood in the correct perspective. Out of a total 307.58 lakh hectares of geographic region only 180 lakh hectares is under irrigation. Of this, nearly 85 per cent comprises of dry region.

It is clearly outlined in the Irrigation Commission report that 65 per cent of this 180 lakh hectares can be brought under irrigation. Yet the fact is that even after 50 years of independence only 15.56 per cent of this land receives irrigated water supply for cultivation purposes, while another 35 per cent receives drip irrigation."

MPNYC state secretary Bhavesh Kini adds: "The state government's financial crunch leaves little scope for initiating such a large scale plan and World Bank recommended 'people's participation' has become a key word for eliciting funds for projects from international lending agencies.

Hence, we have chalked out a plan that seeks to implement smaller projects where the cost of constructing the dam would be nominal and by involving local people in the construction activity we are able to create a tangible asset for the local community which takes care of their water requirements."

Kini adds: "With the civic elections round the corner we expect the campaign to slow down a little in the next few months. But thereafter it will be picked up with much more gusto till each district facing a water shortage gets its water shortage problem addressed."

Patil noted that it had become a fashionable thing to criticise the government for being unable to resolve the problem. "Today, after the joint efforts of 6000 villagers in Padtari village (Solapur district) and a similar number in Osmanabad district has resulted in two dams being constructed people are beginning to appreciate the strength of their own ability to create a community asset."