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.