Many ponds for rainwater storage disappear

In a recent pre-monsoon survey,the state Rural Development Department has found that 30 per cent of the ponds dug to save rainwater are in no condition to function.

In fact,around 15 per cent of the ponds do not have proper check dams to ensure that the water is held back for a longer time.

The department is now planning a probe into the matter. More ponds may be built before the monsoons arrive.

The scheme “Khet ka paani khet mein” covered the districts of Jalaun,Hamirpur,Jhansi,Mahoba,Lalitpur and Banda. Each district was given around Rs 5 to Rs 10 crore to construct ponds adjoining three to four fields,where rainwater was to be saved for irrigation.

The scheme was implemented under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme between May and July in 2008. The cost of digging each pond was estimated to be between Rs 53,000 and Rs 68,000.

The scheme was scrapped midway in June. But since the ponds had already been constructed in a few districts,it was decided they would be used.

This year,with water drying up by mid-April and monsoons still far away,it was decided to check the conditions of the ponds. And the department found that around 15 per cent

of the ponds are totally damaged.

An official of the Jalaun district administration said the condition of some of the ponds is really bad.

“I have visited a few villages myself,” he said. The ponds no longer exist and if it rains,they cannot hold water. It seems the ponds had not been dug at all.

“Now,we have no fresh funds and no funds have been allotted for the maintenance of these ponds,” he said. “Since funds will not be released till the elections are over,we cannot order construction of new ponds either.”

The department now plans to review the conditions of all the ponds and order probe in cases of poor construction. Said Additional commissioner Anurag Yadav: “We are getting the reviews done to check the condition of the ponds before monsoons arrive. As and when we get the reports,we will order inquiries into construction irregularities.”