Pune:The World Bank will assist the state government in spreading awareness among the rural population about judicious use of water and its conservation.

The Union government’s integrated watershed development programme is active in the state since 2010. Now, the World Bank will work with the state to bring about a change in the mindset of local people who want works to be done under the watershed development programme but are not very keen in carrying out conservation activities of soil and water, said state agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat.

Plans on to construct check dams, recharge and village ponds at a cost of Rs.1.65 crore

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has called for intensive water and soil conservation/harvesting efforts in some blocks and other promotional efforts in Tiruchi district. In its Potential Linked Credit Plan, the bank points out that the Cauvery is the most important river in the district irrigating 52,125 hectares. Besides, there are 75 system tanks and 99 seasonal/rainfed tanks that cover 5,751 hectares and 9,164 hectares. Net irrigated area in the district is 99,082 hectares.

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has set a target to sink 25,000 bore-wells by June this year. Besides, there are plans to construct 30,000 check dams in the next five years. These decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday.

The government has so far drilled 13,000 bore-wells, while 4,500 have been provided with power connection. Naveen directed the officials to supply electricity to the remaining bore-wells. And at places where there is no electricity facility, the bore-wells should be connected to solar panels, the chief minister said.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday ordered allocation of nearly Rs.100 crore to strengthen water resources across the State which include construction of a check dam at the cost of Rs. 35 crore across the Kosasthaliyar for storing the Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh for meeting Chennai’s water requirements.

An official release said a basin dam would be constructed at Ladanenthal village in Sivaganga district to channel water to Maranadu lake from the Vaigai river and to nine other lakes at a cost of Rs.12.85 crore, while another bed dam would be built near Atthur village at the cost of Rs.16 crore to supply water Parthibanur Periya Eri, Siriya Eri and Vannikudi Eri.

The Orissa government on Saturday announced the launching of a pilot project under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to provide at least 150 days of work to poor peop

The Forest Department will launch a special drive to increase green cover and eradicate lantana weed in the hill state. Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri today said the drive would initially start from Rampur and Chamba forest circles and later be extended to other parts of the state.

The department would also work on war-footing to remove lantana and other obnoxious weeds and plant fodder species for the benefit of sheep breeders and farming community.

The land of four villages — Hesatu, Silhiri, Khatanga and Gagari — is no different from other fallow agricultural fields of Jharkhand and neither is the fate of the villagers.

To harvest rainwater, 150 check dams would be constructed in the district, Minister for Highways and Minor Ports Edapadi K. Palaniswami said here on Sunday.

Inaugurating the newly-constructed Primary Agricultural Co-operative Credit Society at Rs. 17.07 lakh in Vellalapatti in Omalur taluk, Mr. Palaniswami said that preserving rainwater would enable the rise in ground water level, solve drinking water problems and provide adequate water supply for agricultural activities.