Govt to dig ponds in drought prone areas, use soil for NHs

To expedite highways construction in drought prone areas, the road ministry has offered to construct waterbodies and ponds free of cost in states in lieu of soil excavated in the process.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in a letter to states has urged them to join hands for the arrangement that can serve two-fold purpose -- providing water in drought prone areas and procuring soil for highways building.
The development comes in the wake of Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadakari recently announcing that amid severe drought in states like Maharashtra, the government in an innovative move will construct ponds free of cost for farmers in lieu of soil that will be used in road projects across the country.

Stating that there is persistent need of soil for national highway projects while some parts are facing severe drought, the ministry in the letter to the Chief Secretaries of states said, "It has been decided to link the requirement of soil for the construction work of NHs with the digging/ desiltation of ponds, construction of check dams and ponds in drought prone areas as well as in other areas in the country".
Asking for details of identified sites from the concerned deputy collectors, the ministry said while states should not charge any amount for the earth excavated, it would be the responsibility of concerned contractors, NHAI or implementing agencies to complete the water body work.

It said the arrangement "would serve two-fold purpose at least cost to both parties. The gram panchayats/farmers will gain by having a pond/water body dug in their land at no cost which will help in restoration of such water bodies while the construction agency (NHAI/NHIDCL/Project Zone) would get the material for embankments for its road building and road expansion projects free of cost".

Gadkari has earlier said, "Our ministry is ready to construct lakhs of ponds across the nation free of cost on private land in lieu of sand and earth, which will be consumed in our massive highways building programme".

He has said the issue fell under concurrent list and hence cooperation from state governments have been sought.
"Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Gujarat and parts of Uttar Pradesh are the states, which suffer from 90 per cent water crisis in the country. We are willing to help such states," he has said.