Conserve rain water in villages to boost groundwater: Collector

Kurnool: Rain water in villages should be allowed to be conserved so as to give a boost to the groundwater levels as part of efforts to prevent suicides of farmers. Orders to this effect were issued on Saturday by Collector Ch Vijaymohan while interacting with officials of all mandals during a video conference.

He said 40 per cent of rain water was going waste; 15 per cent was getting evaporated and another 15 per cent as humidity. If 30 per cent of the water going waste could be saved farmers can raise three crops. This should be informed to farmers, the Collector stressed.

Vijaymohan wanted de-siltation work to be launched in all minor irrigation tanks besides streams to a depth of two-three metres under the supervision of the tahsildars and engineering officials. Besides, he wanted the water bodies to be protected from occupation.

The Collector said farmers should be encouraged to dig at least 300 farm ponds in every village under the Panta Sanjivini programme. Soon after the Janmabhhoomi programme, visits of farmers to the farm ponds should be organised and awareness should be created among them. In this regard, plans should be prepared, Vijaymohan stated.

He asked the tahsildars to display the revised voter’s list in all polling centres on January 11. Essay-writing and debating competitions should be organised on January 25, the National Voter’s Day, as suggested by the Election Commission. Among those who attended the meeting were the DRO, CPO, Municipal Commissioner, Joint Director of Agriculture.