Pune district has accelerated water conservation and groundwater recharge planning across all 1,405 gram panchayats amid the possibility of drought conditions, with the administration also linking the works to local employment generation. District Collector Jitendra Dudi reviewed proposed works under the V.B.G. Ramji programme and assigned targets to departments involved in the campaign, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
The planned works will be selected according to the water availability, natural drainage patterns and specific needs of each village. The stated objectives are to increase water availability at village level, capture rainwater, improve groundwater levels and revive existing water sources before water scarcity intensifies.
The campaign brings together the gram panchayat department, the Zilla Parishad minor irrigation department, the agriculture department, the public works department, the soil and water conservation department, the forest department and the social forestry department. The multi-department approach is intended to coordinate works that are often planned and executed separately at village level.
At the gram panchayat level, targets have been set for 14,050 soak pits, well-recharge works, NADEP composting units and vermicomposting projects, with 14,050 works planned for each of these categories. The plan also includes 4,215 rainwater-harvesting works and 1,405 rural access-road projects. Jal Tara and Matoshree rural access-road works have also been proposed.
The water-retention component includes desilting and repairing percolation tanks, straightening and deepening streams, constructing stone bunds, compartment bunding, gabion structures, nala bunds and earthen nala bunds. Targets of 2,810 works each have been set for stone bunds, compartment bunding, gabion structures, nala bunds and earthen nala bunds, based on two works of each type in every gram panchayat.
Desilting and repairs at percolation tanks are expected to improve their storage capacity. At locations with existing bandharas, the administration plans to deepen and straighten streams to improve the movement of water. These works are intended to help retain more rainwater and support recharge, although the report does not provide a timeline for completion or estimates of the additional storage and groundwater increase expected from the programme.
The social forestry department has been assigned a target of 2,810 works for individual tree plantation. Nurseries will also be established based on local water availability. The public works department will handle proposed rural access roads and Matoshree rural access roads, while works approved by the government are planned to be placed on the work shelf for implementation.
The district administration has said that selecting works according to local conditions will be central to the programme. The report states that coordination among departments could strengthen water conservation and help reduce rural water shortages during drought conditions. Further implementation details, including village-wise lists, completion schedules and funding allocations, were not specified in the supplied report.
