To utilise surplus monsoon runoff to recharge groundwater levels in the state, Haryana Government has started work to construct 300 recharge shafts in water-stressed and flood-prone blocks on pilot basis under the ‘Mera Pani–Meri Virasat’ scheme.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sanjeev Kaushal on Monday said that construction of 100 recharge shafts in block Guhla in Kaithal district was started on July 19, after allotment of work on July 14. He said that tenders had been invited for undertaking construction of 100 shafts each in blocks Ratia and Shahabad, and agreements would be finalised. The Irrigation and Water Resources Department, which is implementing the project, would soon float tenders for construction of 700 recharge shafts in all eight blocks covered under the scheme. Haryana Government had decided to construct 1,000 recharge shafts in eight water-stressed blocks, namely Ratia (district Fatehabad).
Siwan and Guhla (district Kaithal), Pipli, Shahabad, Babain and Ismailabad (district Kurukshetra) and Sirsa (district Sirsa), where the groundwater level is below 40 metres, and had invited farmers in these blocks to apply for the same on the ‘Mera Pani – Meri Virasat’ portal. The project would cost around Rs. 32.33 crore.