Expressing concern over decline in ground water level through call attention motion in Chhattisgarh Assembly on Tuesday, the Opposition Congress members accused the State government of adopting lackadaisical approach towards problems being faced by people due to shortage of water and demanded release of water from dams.
Raising the issue through Call Attention Motion, Congress member Bhupesh Baghel said that the State has recorded 17 percent less rain as compared to the average rainfall.
Due to less rainfall, as many as 117 tehsils in the State have been declared drought affected. Ground water level is declining across the State, he said.
River, canals, ponds, dams and stop-dams are turning dry due to less rainfall and the situation has increased the dependency on hand pumps for drinking water as well as water for other purposes leading to decline in ground water level, added Baghel.
As per information received, ground water level in Bastar and Surguja division fell below 25 meters while Raipur, Durg and Bilaspur has recorded fall of about 28-30 meters, said the Congress member, adding that problem related to water is getting more worse. According to Baghel, of the 42 water bodies in the State, 19 water bodies are having 50 percent water while eight bodies are carrying 25 percent water. Instead of making some instantaneous and alternative arrangements in the interest of the people, the government has prohibited digging of bore-wells, he said.
The State Government is still to take any concrete steps to resolve the problem. Water shortage problem in urban as well as rural areas will be turning worse with rise in temperature and going to hit lives of people severely, he said.
Baghel further added that the State government should immediately initiate some concrete moves in this direction but it has acquired lackadaisical approach on the issue which resulted in massive resentment among people, he said.
In his statement, Health Minister Ajay Chandrakar (who is also holding additional responsibility of Public Health Engineering Department) said that as per information received from Revenue Department, the State has witnessed 16.20 percent less rain than the average and due to less rainfall, as many as 117 tehsils have been declared drought-hit.
According to Chandrakar, decline in ground water level during summer is a usual event. Similarly, sources of surface water is also affected due to less rainfall. The average level of ground water in Bastar division is 16.80 meter, Surguja division (23.20 meter), Raipur division (24.80 meter), Durg division (27.10 meter) while average water level in Bilaspur division is below 29.30 meter.
The Minister further stated that Chhattisgarh government is very much conscious of ensuring drinking water to people during summer. Water in urban areas is being supplied through dams and sufficient water is available in dams. Moreover, water from dams will be supplied in rural areas at right time.