DC Poonch reviews implementation of “Catch the rain, When it falls, Where it falls” campaign

Poonch: District Development Commissioner Poonch, Inder Jeet today reviewed the implementation of ‘Catch the rain, When it falls, Where it falls’ campaign under Jal Shakti Abhiyan in the district.

National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a campaign “Catch the Rain” with the tagline “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” in 2020 to nudge the states and all stakeholders to create Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) suitable to the climatic conditions and sub-soil strata, with people’s active participation.

In the meeting, the DC directed the concerned departments to submit the progress achieved till ending June within 2 days and identify the water conservation activities which can be carried out in the district. He further directed to prepare the water conservation plan within 15 days.

The motive of the campaign is to identify and renovate the traditional existing water bodies like bowlies and ponds, identification of new water bodies and water harvesting structures. It also emphasized on water conservation and its new techniques like rain water harvesting.

The DC Poonch issued directions for Geo tagging/mapping of all water bodies, constructions of check dams across Nallahs/rivulets to recharge the groundwater, removal of encroachment and obstructions from the water bodies. Besides, he stressed on the revival of wet land and intensive afforestration.

The meeting was attended by the officers from various departments who were directed to get involved for taking up these activities and a 14 point Performa /indicator sheet was devised for the purpose pertaining to various departments.

The Performa devised for the purpose of water conservation and harvesting is being updated on a monthly basis by the concerned departments and submitted to the Jal Shakti Abhiyan Cell by the 3rd of every month. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan cell in the district then consolidates the information received from various departments and submits it to higher authorities by 5th of month.

The meeting was attended by ADDC Poonch, SE hydraulics, ADC, DFO (T), PO IWMP, XEN PHE/I&FC, AEE PHE, AD Planning and AE Ground Water Division.