Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday expressed her concern over depletion of groundwater and stressed upon its conservation, urging citizens to play their individual roles to prevent any wastage.
"Chennai is facing an acute water crisis and even drinking water is scarce there. The effect of global warming has contributed to this scarcity of drinking water and groundwater is also depleting. We have conducted a survey and have identified a number of blocks in which groundwater is very scarce. We are working on the conservation of open sky water (surface water) in every possible way," Banerjee said in response to a query on "Jal Dharo Jal Bharo" project by Trinamool Congress MLA Gita Rani Bhunia at the state Assembly.
Banerjee's remarks assume significance as a 2018 report by government-run think tank NITI Aayog has sounded alarm and stated that a total of 21 major cities are poised to run out of groundwater by 2020.
The Chief Minister also maintained that the state government has already cleaned up 2,78000 ponds under "Jal Dharo Jal Bharo" scheme. "We have formed a committee in convergence with four departments — Panchayats and Rural Development, Irrigation, Water Resources Investigation and Development along with the Fisheries department led by Chief Secretary Malay De. The committee will sit down and chalk out steps to urge farmers to opt for the cultivation of crops that need less water in those blocks where groundwater is scanty. The Fisheries department will take measures to encourage fish cultivation in those ponds that have been cleaned up," she added.
Banerjee urged the MLAs, irrespective of their party affiliations, to take the initiative in their own possible way to carry forward the message of "Save Energy, Save Green, Save Water". "The MLAs, while addressing people in different meetings, can speak for a minute on the importance of saving water," she maintained.
She also added that her government has taken up some projects to desilt clogged rivers to prevent floods and is conducting a review of the situation. She also touched upon projects like the Lower Damodar Basin which is being implemented at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore, the project involving Keleghai – Kapaleshwari river, the Ghatal Master plan that the state has taken up in this regard. "We have constructed several check dams for the conservation of water," Banerjee said.
Suvendu Adhikari, minister for Water Resources Investigation and Development, further added that there is nothing to panic with the government taking up rainwater harvesting in 31 blocks where the groundwater level is extremely low. "We have taken up a target to clean up another 5,505 ponds by March 2020," Adhikari said.