How govt's Amrit Sarovars scheme targets catching rainwater & soil availability for infrastructure projects

NEW DELHI: The government is targeting to address two concerns — catching the run off rainwater and meeting the scarcity of soil for infrastructure projects — by fast-tracking the construction of over 50,000 Amrit Sarovars (ponds), each with a size of over one acre. Each such pond will be of at least one acre with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic metres.
According to the minutes of the last Paragati meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PM has asked all the agencies working in the infrastructure sector, such as roads and railways, to map their projects with the water bodies being developed under the Amrit Sarovar scheme, to meet their requirement for earth work. “This would be a win-win situation as the material dug out for the Amrit Sarovar can be utilized for civil works by the agencies,” the minutes said.
A senior official in an infrastructure ministry said the availability of soil dug up from the identified sites for the ponds will address more than one issue. “Currently, different state authorities charge royalty for soil that’s excavated for carrying our road and other infrastructure projects. Once we have the states identify the spots for the ponds, we can get the soil without any problem. This will fast-track project implementation,” he added.
Shortage of soil has been one of the concerns for infrastructure projects across several states, and more so when there are orders from different benches of the green tribunal and local authorities.
As per the government data, so far 65,536 spots have been identified for Amrit Sarovar and work has started at 27324 sites. Till now works have been completed at 857 sites. A maximum of 300 such ponds have been completed, followed by 229 in Madhya Pradesh and 103 in Gujarat.
Officials said to be certified as Amrit Sarovar, the ponds need to meet specific criteria. The government is using the latest and most relevant technologies such as remote sensing and geospatial in all aspects of the work from site selection till project completion.
The guidelines specify that the sites of these ponds located in the villages of freedom fighters and martyrs should get priority. Commemorative planting of trees such as neem, peepal and bargad (banyan) will be done at the work site on August 15 by freedom fighters or their family members or by the family of martyr or a local padma awardee. In case there is no such citizen available, the eldest citizen of the specific or local gram panchayat would be requested to lead the plantation.
The government has specified that the foundation stone for these ponds will be led by freedom fighters or their family members.