Early Times Report
DODA, May 16: The Union Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Central Nodal Officer for Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)-Catch the Rain (CTR), Angshuman Dey, chaired a virtual review meeting to assess the implementation of the Abhiyan in Doda and evaluate its impact and progress across the district.
During the meeting, the Union Joint Secretary conducted a detailed assessment of various crucial aspects of the program. He reviewed the financial and physical progress achieved so far in the district and appreciated the efforts of the district administration and other stakeholders in effectively implementing the Jal Shakti Abhiyan. He emphasized the need for extensive publicity of the Abhiyan through Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to reach a maximum number of beneficiaries. He also informed the participants that he would be visiting the district in the last week of the month to discuss progress, address bottlenecks, and address immediate issues to ensure the grand success of JSA.
District Development Commissioner, Doda, Vishesh Mahajan, presented a detailed report on the progress achieved during the previous year and outlined the proposed activities for the current financial year. He also discussed the Water Conservation Plan for 2023-24.
The DDC informed the Union Joint Secretary that 85 Amrit Sarovars (sacred ponds) were established last year, and one Amrit Sarovar is proposed for every village in the district this year. He mentioned that the district plans to develop terrace-type Amrit Sarovars, considering the sloping topography. The DDC further shared that over 10 lakh saplings were planted last year, covering an area of about 2869 acres. The district has successfully restored 1021 water bodies through various agencies such as RDD, IWMP, Jal Shakti, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Forest departments. Additionally, the district aims to restore 792 water bodies this year and geo-tag all 492 water bodies in Doda.
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a flagship program of the Government of India focused on ensuring water security and conservation in the country. The program aims to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation, promote water harvesting, and improve infrastructure for water storage and distribution.
During the meeting, the impact of the program on the ground was assessed and challenges or issues requiring attention were identified.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner, Superintendent Engineer JSD, Chief Planning Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, Chief Education Officer, Divisional Forest Officers, Executive Engineers, and other concerned officials |
