Water structures at 44,000 villages to be mapped under Jalyukta Shivar 3.0

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two bodies to facilitate the work using the GIS.
Each water conservation centre will be marked on the map using specific markings and they will be physically verified to analyse its present status.

“This will be the first-of-its-kind exercise where entire data of village-level water conservation structures will be collected. It will help understand the necessary works to be carried out in respective areas based on the present condition of the structures,” said Priya Khan, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) working with the CMO, with a responsibility of execution of the scheme.

All water conservation structures, except dams, will be mapped under the scheme — check dams, farm ponds, K T Weir, contour bunds and watershed development.

The water conservation structures to be mapped will include those constructed by the state government, local civic bodies, those built under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) or by NGOs in collaboration with locals.

In 2015, Maharashtra government had launched the Jalyukta Shivar scheme to make Maharashtra drought-free.

In its first version, a total of 22,000 villages were covered and works such as deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams, work on nullahs and digging of farm ponds were undertaken.

In 2022, Jalyukta Shivar 2.0 under then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was approved which catered to around 5,000 villages. The new version of the scheme was a mix of technical and social approach towards water conservation. The social aspect involved spreading awareness about water literacy, water management and conservation principles.