The cleaning and dredging of waterbodies taken up during summer seem to have paid off as most of them have filled up following the recent rain.
The Vilaspur tank near Blackbuck Jungle Lodges and Resorts in Khanapur forests, for example, is flowing beyond the upper columns. Large portions of Malkapur tank and Naubad tank beds are full of water.
The most visible change is in the Karanja dam backwaters. Water level has risen in the Pratapur tank in Basavakalyan and the tanks near Nirna and Talamadagi in Humnabad and Deshmukh tank in Aurad. “However, the Tegumpur tank in Aurad taluk is yet to impound enough water as there was not enough rain,” say residents.
At least 90 per cent of the tanks and wells are full, Balbhim Kamble, Project Director, District Urban Development Cell, said.
“The first benefit was that these bodies are holding water, increasing chances of seepage and enriching the aquifer. Secondly, farmers were allowed to take the silt to enrich the top soil in their fields for free,” Mr. Kamble said.
“This is just part one of our grand plan. Now, we will plant saplings along the tank bund. They will include fruit and timber trees, along with bio-diesel species. We will also encourage farmers to take up inland fisheries in these waters,” Anurag Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, said.
The district administration used the drought as a good opportunity to clean and dredge 100 tanks and 130 open wells.
Agencies like the Nirmiti Kendra and the District Urban Development Cell were involved in the process. Mr. Tewari obtained special permission to use earth movers to do the job. The State government released money under the Kere Sanjivini project. The Bidar Zilla Panchayat pitched in by taking dredging works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Bidar-based non-governmental organisation Team Yuva monitored the work.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who inspected the dredging works in Deshmukh tank, appreciated the efforts and urged members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha to join the initiative.