Chandigarh (Aditi) A MoU has been signed between the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti and CSIR - National Geophysical research institute, Ministry of Science and technology and Earth Sciences in the august presence of Minister Jal Shakti Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MOS Jal Shakti/Social Justice and Empowerment Sh. Rattan Lal Kataria and Dr Harsh Vardhan from Ministry of Science and Technology, earth sciences, Health and Family welfare.
The MoU shall enable the CGWB to leverage the high end technology like heli borne geophysical survey for mapping 65,500 sq km of water stressed areas of Rajasthan ( covering parts of Bikaner,a Hutu,Ganga nagar,Jalor,Pali,Jaisalmer,Jodhpur and Sikar districts ), 32,000 Sq Km arid parts of Gujarat, and nearly 2500 sq Km area of Haryana ( Ladwa,Babain,Shahbad,thanesar Pehowa,Jagadhr,Radaur,mustafabad,chhachchrauli).
This survey shall enable CGWB to identify aquifers and generate related data in a very short time period and help in finalising the groundwater management plan. The old approach of drilling borewells to explore possibility of obtaining potable water shall now be substituted by Heli-borne survey. Now, more and more area can be mapped with near perfection accuracy.
MOS Sh Rattan Lal Kataria informed that nearly 1 lakh sq.km area shall be surveyed in the phase - 1 of this project. A lot of quality data shall be generated which would then be used for effective planning. Mr Kataria took this opportunity to express his satisfaction over the way the Ministry of Jal Shakti is using nouvel,innovative and cutting edge technology to address perennial concerns of water management. He informed that the water level of north Haryana region is witnessing depletion at an alarming rate owing to the indiscriminate use for farming, industrial purpose and for fulfilling supply towards drinking water. Terming Data as a valuable resource, he said that the findings of the survey shall be beneficial to prepare ground water management plans.
Mr Kataria said that the Hon’ble PM Sh. Narendra Modi always emphasizes upon developing
synergies between the Govt bodies. The MoU signed between the two departments of the
government is symbolic of the vision of our Prime Minister.
He expressed full faith that the Government of Haryana under the dynamic leadership of Sh
Manohar lal Khattar shall capitalize upon this opportunity and work in close coordination with the jal shakti ministry for optimum utilization of our ground water resources. He apprised that Haryana ranks 2 in the monthly ranking released by the ministry of jal shakti for the National Hydrology Project which aims at collecting data on water resources.