Rs. 100-cr. W.B. aid for water harvesting

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 18. The World Bank has indicated willingness for a Rs. 100-crore assistance for funding drought-proofing measures in the State, particularly water harvesting activities. A bank mission is coming here on Monday.

Announcing this at a broad-based meeting of the Telugu Desam Party at the NTR Memorial Trust here on Thursday, the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, hoped the aid would help fund efforts to find a lasting solution to the problem of recurring drought. The bank had extended similar assistance to super cyclone-ravaged Orissa.

In the course of a 75-minute presentation on 'Water, the gift of life' to the assembled ministers, MPs, MLAs and other senior party functionaries, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said water was the No. 1 problem of people and even pulled out a quote that the next world war could well be fought for water. Mr. Naidu provided global update, the position in the country and in the State to underscore the need for conservation and judicious use of water.

Only 2.5 per cent of the world's water was fresh, rest was salty. In India, per capita availability of water was down by half in 50 years. In Andhra Pradesh, where the average rainfall was 896 mm, 40 per cent of surface run-off drained into the sea, 35.7 per cent was lost in evaporation; only 14.30 per cent seeped into the ground and 10 per cent available for soil moisture.

He said it was a pity that in the arid Anantapur district, almost all of its 550 mm rainfall drained off into the sea while in Raalegaon Siddhi in Maharashtra, where Mr. Anna Hazare launched the watershed movement, water was available at only 16 feet although the rainfall was a mere 450 mm. Kuppam and some other places showcased the success of watershed and other initiatives and emerged as oases in drought- prone Rayalaseema.

On the initiatives taken by his Government - setting up of a water conservation mission and committees and mass construction of water harvesting structures, contour trenches and bunds, he said that this was perhaps the biggest participatory movement of its kind .

The Chief Minister said considering the preciousness of the resource, it was necessary to promote awareness and slap regulations governing its use. The Government sanctioned Rs. 20 lakhs to every watershed which was misused by some farmers who managed them. A provision should be made for the recovery of funds from the committees which failed to make proper use. In the urban areas, rain water harvesting structures and planting of saplings should be made compulsory in households.

He spoke of plans to bring in legislation to crack down on people encroaching on tankbeds. Over the years pattas had been given on such tankbeds. They would be evicted and given alternative land.

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