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Time of India
16-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh's Durg sets water conservation record: 1,200 soak pits built in 2 hours across PMAY homes
RAIPUR: In a remarkable example of community-driven water conservation, Chhattisgarh's Durg district constructed 1,200 recharge soak pits within just two hours across houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The campaign, executed on the morning of June 13, was not just about numbers. It was a strategic intervention aimed at addressing the alarming depletion of groundwater levels, particularly in Durg and Dhamdha blocks, which are classified as 'stressed zones'. Groundwater in these areas is available only at depths of 600 to 800 feet, making recharge efforts crucial for sustainability. Speaking to The Times of India, Durg Zila Panchayat CEO Bajarang Dubey, who spearheaded the initiative, said, 'This was purely a community-led effort under the Mor Gaon, Mor Paani (my village my water), aimed at conserving rainwater and transform it into a mass movement. People constructed soak pits on their own without waiting for government assistance, which helped save approximately Rs 60 lakh of public funds. ' There are 4,200 PMAY houses across the district's three development blocks — Durg, Dhamdha, and Patan. Of these, soak pits were built at 1,200 houses, with four homes per gram panchayat contributing to the effort. The district has 300 gram panchayats, and all were mobilised for the initiative. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Unlike previous records, such as the 660 random soak pits in Koriya district that included Anganwadis and other government buildings, Durg's record focused solely on PMAY households, underscoring a more targeted and strategic approach. Each soak pit measures 2.5 feet in length, width, and depth, and is designed to capture and recharge water from household runoff and rooftops, thereby reducing surface water loss and improving groundwater levels. Water discharged from households, including runoff from rooftops and domestic use, will be collected and absorbed into the ground through the soak pits, helping to replenish the groundwater table, he said. 'The cost of building a soak pit usually ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. But thanks to the people's voluntary labour, the government did not spend a rupee,' Dubey said, adding that awareness drives and the involvement of field engineers played a crucial role in convincing beneficiaries. The initiative is also seen as a model of convergence and accountability. Beneficiaries under PMAY receive subsidies for house construction, toilets, tap connections, and electricity. 'We told them that when they are already availing multiple benefits, it is only fair to contribute sweat equity for a soak pit that would ultimately help their own water security — and they agreed,' said Dubey. Efforts are now on to cover the remaining PMAY households in the district, aiming to further scale up this low-cost, high-impact intervention. With this achievement, Durg not only set a new record but also highlighted how grassroots participation can address environmental challenges effectively and economically.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Dhamtari's ‘MAA' mission aims to restore Mahanadi's origin area
Raipur: The Dhamtari district administration launched a special campaign, 'Mahanadi Awakening Abhiyan' (MAA), to restore the Mahanadi River's origin area. The 18-km stretch from Pharshiya to Sihawa will be covered under this initiative, which aims to enhance ecological balance and promote sustainable development. Dhamtari collector Abinash Mishra said the comprehensive reformation of the Mahanadi River's origin will involve desilting the riverbed, reinforcing banks, enhancing green cover, beautifying surroundings, making the area accessible to the public, developing the surrounding region, and engaging the community in conservation efforts. Mishra said that by revitalising the river's source, MAA hopes to enhance the region's popularity, transforming the river's origin into a tourist attraction, boosting agricultural output, and improving the livelihoods of local residents as well as the regional economy. MAA was inaugurated on May 2 and the ceremony was joined by thousands of villagers across several villages in the Dhamtari district. Mishra said the MAA campaign is a special initiative and an extended version of the state govt's ongoing campaign 'Mor Gaon, Mor Paani'. A nearly 20 km stretch alongside the Mahanadi River, considered the lifeline of Chhattisgarh and one of the ten largest rivers in India, will be covered under the MAA campaign. He said that this is a large project initiated in India and they are working scientifically to ensure better results. In the last two months, cleaning, encroachment removal, beautification, and plantation on the river banks were undertaken. The collector said ten villages, including Pharshiya, Sambalpur, Chikhli, and Ganeshwar, will benefit through sustainable development plans executed under the campaign. Major emphasis will be given to developing Karneshwar Mahadev Dham and Shringi Rishi Ashram, spread across 1.5 km, as a tourist spot. Road widening and anicut construction will be done. Measures will be taken to overcome the water crisis under the campaign. collector said they are taking help from educational institutions, NCC, NSS, various govt departments, public participation, and IIT Madras for technical support. Mishra said it is a one-year project and this awareness campaign is dedicated to rejuvenating the Mahanadi, which originates in Chhattisgarh, flows across Odisha, and finally merges into the Bay of Bengal. He added that it is a collective movement to build awareness, encourage participation, and foster responsibility towards conserving and rejuvenating the Mahanadi.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari launches ‘MAA' to restore Mahanadi source focus on river revival, green cover & tourism development
RAIPUR: The Dhamtari district administration has launched a special campaign, 'Mahanadi Awakening Abhiyan' (MAA), to restore the origin area of the Mahanadi River. The 18-km stretch from Pharshiya to Sihawa will be covered under this initiative, which aims to enhance ecological balance and promote sustainable development. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dhamtari Collector Abinash Mishra said the comprehensive restoration of the Mahanadi's origin will include desilting the riverbed, reinforcing the banks, increasing green cover, beautifying the surroundings, making the area accessible to the public, developing the region, and involving the community in conservation efforts. Mishra added that by revitalising the river's source, MAA aims to boost the region's popularity, transform the origin into a tourist attraction, improve agricultural output, enhance local livelihoods, and strengthen the regional economy. The Mahanadi Awakening Abhiyan was inaugurated on 2 May. Thousands of villagers took part in the inaugural event across several villages in the Dhamtari district. Mishra explained that the MAA campaign is a special initiative and an extended version of the state government's ongoing 'Mor Gaon, Mor Paani' campaign. Nearly 20 km of land alongside the Mahanadi, which is regarded as the lifeline of Chhattisgarh and one of India's ten largest rivers, will be developed under this drive. He also noted that this is a major project being carried out scientifically for effective results. In the past two months, cleaning, removal of encroachments, beautification, and tree plantation along the riverbanks have taken place. The Collector said ten villages, including Pharshiya, Sambalpur, Chikhli, and Ganeshwar, will benefit through sustainable development plans under the campaign. A major focus will be the development of Karneshwar Mahadev Dham and Shringi Rishi Ashram, covering 1.5 km, as a tourist destination. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Road widening and anicut (small dam) construction will also be undertaken. The campaign will also include measures to tackle water scarcity. Support is being received from educational institutions, NCC, NSS, various government departments, the public, and IIT Madras for technical expertise. Mishra said this year-long awareness campaign is dedicated to rejuvenating the Mahanadi, which originates in Chhattisgarh, flows through Odisha, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. He described it as a collective movement to raise awareness, encourage participation, and build a sense of responsibility towards conserving and restoring the Mahanadi.
