Bihar ranks 3rd in saving water

PATNA: Bihar was jointly awarded the third prize with Andhra Pradesh in the category of 'Best State', in the fourth National Water Awards by the Union Jalshakti Ministry on Saturday. Madhya Pradesh was adjudged the first and Odisha bagged the second prize.
Bihar got this award for its efforts towards conservation and management of water resources under the 'Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan' (JJHA).
Secretary (rural development) N Saravana Kumar and Jal-Jeevan Hariyali Mission director Rahul Kumar received the award from Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi.
Congratulating all stakeholder departments of the JJHA, Saravana said: "The award is an important feat for this statewide campaign directed towards water conservation and management in just three and a half years. The far-reaching impact of this abhiyan will be seen in the years to come."
The project is a collaborative effort of 15 departments and being monitored by Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission under the rural development department.
Over 8k public water harvesting structures rejuvenated in state
JJHA was launched by CM Nitish Kumar on October 2, 2019 with the objective to combat the adverse impact of climate change and conserve the environment.
Under the campaign, 11 target interventions are being implemented, including removal of encroachment from public water bodies, rejuvenation of public water storage structures, rooftop rainwater harvesting, massive afforestation, promotion of organic farming and solar energy. Rahul said the JJHA, under the guidance of CM Nitish Kumar, has received numerous accolades at the national and international plaforms.
“Bihar is the first state in the country to launch such a comprehensive statewide campaign,” he said and added that the Central Ground Water Board has reported an increase in groundwater level in Bihar and attributed it to the implementation of JJHA. About 30,000 public ponds, puddles, aahars, pynes and wells have been made encroachment free in Bihar under the JJHA. More than 8,000 public water harvesting structures have been rejuvenated.
Besides, approximately 1.5 lakh soak pits have been constructed near public wells and hand pumps. The state government has extended the JJHA till 2024-25.
(Inputs from Rajiv Kumar in Begusarai)