8,013 Tanks To Be Restored In Vizianagaram
District collector S. Ramsundar Reddy directed officials to ensure that every tank is developed to its full potential by reviving canals, streams and feeder channels to secure water inflows: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Vizianagaram district administration has launched an ambitious water conservation drive aimed at restoring and maximising the storage capacity of 8,013 tanks across the district.
District collector S. Ramsundar Reddy directed officials to ensure that every tank is developed to its full potential by reviving canals, streams and feeder channels to secure water inflows. He also stressed the need to improve groundwater levels in depleted areas through the construction of check dams and farm ponds.
Officials said the tanks would be categorised into permanent storage, seasonal storage and low-storage tanks, with development works planned accordingly.
District water management agency project director Sarada Devi said proposals had been prepared for the development of 7,062 tanks and 4,801 irrigation canals. These include 179 chain-of-tanks systems comprising 537 tanks.
She said works had already commenced on 2,573 tanks and 761 canals. In addition, 215 villages with groundwater levels between eight and 20 metres had been identified as special priority villages, where 1,824 tank-related works and 1,330 channel works were under way.
Joint collector S. Sethu Madhavan said all proposed works would be taken up on a war footing and completed within 100 days. He said the primary objective of the initiative was to maximise surface water storage and improve groundwater levels across the district.
The district-level initiative is part of the state government’s 100-day “Jaladhara–Jalaharati” programme being implemented from April 6 to July 14 under the theme “Water Security – The Responsibility of Irrigation Associations”.
The programme aims to address drought-like conditions linked to the El Niño phenomenon and strengthen rural water security through restoration of minor irrigation tanks, feeder channels, bund strengthening, construction of check dams and farm ponds, rainwater harvesting and village-level water budgeting.
Ramsundar Reddy described Jaladhara as an important initiative to conserve water for future generations and urged officials to ensure its effective implementation in coordination with public representatives and irrigation associations.
