Berhampur: With groundwater level going down in the city every year, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has drawn up a plan to construct around 2,000 water harvesting projects.
The BeMC plans to take up 50 water harvesting structures in each of 42 Wards in its area under Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan (MUKTA). For rooftop projects, mostly the buildings of state government offices, libraries and kalyan mandaps have been identified. Around Rs 38,700 will be invested in each of such projects.
Similarly, water harvesting structures would be built in open areas like parks, unused grounds and other places in the city. All projects would be executed by women SHGs through Mission Shakti. The corporators of each ward have held meeting for identification of suitable spots with the SHGs.
At the same time, the defunct water harvesting structures constructed last year would be repaired. Around 500 structures were built at a cost of Rs 20,000-25,000 each. This work would also be assigned to the women SHGs which would be paid Rs 500 each.
The BeMC initiative aims at solving the drinking water crisis which has assumed critical condition in the city. Due to construction of buildings in encroached water sources, the groundwater level has gone down alarmingly. The groundwater, which used to be available at 120-150 feet a few years back, has now gone down to 250-350 feet. The water harvesting structures are expected to recharge the groundwater level, the BeMC hopes.
