Water harvesting projects yield positive results
-
02/08/2008
-
Hindu (New Delhi)
Launched by Ambuja Cement in three districts of Rajasthan
JAIPUR: Water harvesting and sustainable agriculture projects launched by a cement manufacturing firm in three districts of Rajasthan as part of its "corporate social responsibility' have started showing positive results by improving the storage capacity of ponds and other traditional sources of water and augmented the crop yield of farmers.
The Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF) sought participation of villagers in its projects for de-silting and deepening of ponds, groundwater recharge and construction of check-dams on riverbeds in Rabriyawas area in Pali district, Chirawa in Jhunjhunu district and Mundwa in Nagaur district.
The ACF provided technical and financial support for executing the projects during the past two years, while the local communities took up cost-effective works such as transportation of dug-out soil, renovation of traditional sources and making arrangements for household consumption of water.
ACF Director Pearl Tiwari said here that the foundation, while taking up simultaneous projects in the water sector, trained the farming community for changing agricultural practices by growing vegetables, increasing horticulture plantation and adopting organic farming.
People's participation
"Our project officials realised that villagers in the desert State were unable to think beyond water. Even though several of them owned agricultural land, there was simply no productivity,' said Mr. Tiwari, adding that the objective of the ACF projects was to make people participate and get prosperous in their native lands. The foundation de-silted ponds in 25 villages in the Rabriyawas region during 2007-08, increasing water storage in the area by 5.8 mcft. At the same time, the excavated fertile topsoil of 1.44 lakh cubic metres was utilised by farmers in their fields. Pond renovation also answered some of the drinking water problems.
Mr. Tiwari said de-silting and deepening of ponds, locally known as