The Hindu : Watershed project a boon to farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 21, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Watershed project a boon to farmers

By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao

PEDDA PENDYAL (WARANGAL DT.) OCT. 20 . While most of farmers in the district are worried over the prevailing drought, those in the `watershed villages' are a cheerful lot, thanks to the watershed development programme.

The District Water Management Agency (DWMA), constituted in November last, took up construction of check-dams, contour bunds and other drought proof measures on a big scale as part of its waste land development programme.

At several villagers, the programme has paid dividends much to the expectation of officials. Majority of farmers, who were sceptical about the project initially, are now expressing happiness as their agricultural wells adjacent to check-dams have been recharged. "When we lost all hopes, the check-dam had helped improve the water level in my well,'' said J. Rajaiah of Pedda Pendyal village.

The DWMA project director, D. Rajesham, has said the administration decided to convert the 2,78,955 hectares of wasteland in the district through the programme where the groundwater was exploited maximum. "Two years ago, we had to take pains in convincing farmers. Now, they realised the importance after having seen the results,'' he said.

At Ketampalli village, as many as 15 check-dams have been built over the Ketampalli feeder channel which resulted in stopping the flood water in over two km stretch all along. Following this, the agricultural fields alongside the canal are fully recharged bringing respite to the disappointed farmers.

At Pedda Pendyal village, the check-dam built at a cost of Rs. 90,000 helped store the rainwater in the 450 metre stretch with 5.5 feet depth. "The watershed programme has yielded results and now we are in a position to draw more water from wells,'' said Upa Sarpanch, Tota Ravi.

So far, the DWMA has taken up watershed programme in 65,780 hectares with Rs. 26.84 crores. Farmers in Bachannpet, Cherial, Dharmasagar, Station Ghanpur, Jangoan, Raghunathpalli, Kodakandla, Maddur other villages have been benefited by the programme.

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