Daijiworld  Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 31: Because of the lockdown and Tauktae cyclone, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the central government to address the problems of the underground water table and drinking water shortage in rural areas has faced hiccups in the district. As against the target of 2,398 works, only 1,770 works have started.

For a hundred days prior to the beginning of the rainy season under the scheme, rainwater conservation in each village, development of ponds, streams etc., under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the revival of canals and waterways where water flows through, digging of new ponds and water storage facility to cattle, vented dams, borewell recharge, rainwater harvesting, irrigation wells etc were planned to be carried out. In April, about 1.2 lac man days were created while in May only about 70,000 man days could be used because of the cyclone and lockdown.

There were instructions to identify at least one pond for each village under the campaign. Out of 160 canals, 121 were started for revival. The plan is for 20 vented dams but work is going on only in the case of two. Out of 1,158 soak pits, work is going on in 674 cases.

Earlier, even though construction works were allowed early, later during the lockdown it was withdrawn. The daily wages has been enhanced from Rs 275 per day to 289, but because of coronavirus, it has not benefited the people much.

Naveen Bhat, zilla panchayat chief executive officer, said that the Abhiyan went on well during April but because of the Covid second wave and lockdown, works have suffered. He said that ponds are full because of the cyclone, and hence works on the development of ponds could not be undertaken. He said that in spite of these problems, 1.9 lac man days were used in two months.