Chandigarh December 6: Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal said that all such ponds in the State which are in the revenue records would be rejuvenated. He directed that in the first phase, about 200 ponds in those villages which are included in the Mahagram Yojana and ponds of having religious and historical significance be taken up on priority basis. About 16,000 ponds in the State are to be rejuvenated out of which 1800 ponds would be developed in the first phase in a year’s time.

This decision was taken in the meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal here..

Mr Manohar Lal said that the primarily, the State Government aims to ensure drinking water supply in the households through taps and also to purify the water used in the household kitchens by pouring into the ponds so that the same could be utilized by cattle for drinking purpose. He said that thereafter, the remaining water would be utilized for irrigating crops through micro irrigation. He directed the officers to identify agriculture fields for discharging water of big ponds..

It was informed in the meeting that as per the survey conducted by the officers of District Pond Management, 600 ponds on the basis of 38 parameters in urban areas and 15,946 ponds on the basis of 44 parameters in rural areas have been identified for rejuvenation. An action plan has been prepared for this purpose as per which about 16,000 ponds would be rejuvenated in coming 10 years. Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority, Urban Local Bodies, Irrigation and Development and Panchayats Department would work jointly for the improvement of such ponds..

Among those present in the meeting included Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr V. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary Irrigation and Water Resources Department Mr Devender Singh, Principal Secretary Development and Panchayats Department Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mrs Ashima Brar and other senior officers of the State Government..