Celebrating Amrit Kaal: Ganjam Admin Inaugurates Amrit Sarovars across District

Berhampur: India is celebrating Amrit Kaal on the occasion of the observation of the 75th Year of Independence. In order to make it more memorable and eventful, the government has started a long term water conservation scheme namely Amrit Sarovar Yojana under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan. Under this innovative initiative of the Central and State Government, 75 Amrit Sarovars are to be created in various districts of the country. The idea behind the initiative is to enhance the livelihood of the rural people by means of these Sarovars.

Odisha’s Ganjam district has set a target of creating 110 such Sarovars, by creating 5 in each block, as Ganjam has got very huge potential to identify and create such model water bodies. One such place identified for the initiative is Saru Panchayat in Hinjilicut Block where the land required for the Sarovar had already been identified for construction of new Amrit Sarovar and both the block administration and local people participated with great enthusiasm and have completed the project for inauguration during the Independence Day celebrations.

Saru Gram Panchayat of Hinjilicut Block, which is already having a self-sufficient rural infrastructure, has added one more critical infrastructure. The villagers of Saru have understood the importance of the renovation of their very own Baishanba Bandha by the district and block administration under this programme. The villagers have become a part of the development of the Amrit Sarovar and many have been roped in to contribute in the process through MGNREGA. Desiltation of the pond, strengthening of embankments, grass turfing of the peripherals, effective inlet and outlet with plantation of fruit and shade bearing trees around the pond are some of the major works that have been taken up through MGNREGS.

The area of the Sarovar water body is of more than five acres which can store about 50000 Cubic Meters of water. There are also good provisions for inlet and outlet of water. More than 200 job seekers have been provided daily wage employment under this project and they are expressing their utmost happiness that the Amrit Sarovar will be helpful to them in many ways apart from cultivation.

With the successful implementation of MGNREGA, many Amrit Sarovars are being developed throughout the country. A tank size of one acre can store 10000 cubic meters of water. With the development work nearing completion, the water level of the Amrit Sarovar of Saru is increasing with rains and the villagers have started using this. People are hopeful that it will be more helpful for them being a source for supply of drinking water, irrigation of farm land and Pisciculture. It will also provide them with fruits and shade from the peripheral plantation and water for cattle. The place will eventually become a point of recreation for villagers, along with helping in harvesting and recharging of ground water in future.

The works associated with the Amrit Sarovar have progressed successfully with the active involvement of the District, Block and Panchayat Administration, said Chief Development Officer-cum-EO, Zilla Parishad, Ganjam, V. Keerthi Vasan.

The old Baisnaba Bandha has now been converted into Amrit Sarovar for the celebration of this Amrit Kaal and the Baishnaba Amrit Sarovar is the Amrit Mahotsav for the people of Saru. Around 15 such Sarovars across the district have been inaugurated today as a part of the Independence Day celebrations.