Trivandrum: Under the Union Government’s Mission Amrit Sarovar programme, about 1,000 ponds in Kerala are being rejuvenated.

Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched by the Prime Minister on April 24, 2022 with an objective to provide sustainable water sources wherein every district is expected to construct and rejuvenate a minimum of 75 Amrit Sarovar. 

This Mission is being implemented with a whole of Government Approach in which eight Central Ministries/Department -- Department of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate changes, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways -- are participating.

Works are at different stages and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would announce the completion of the national-level programme on August 15.

As many as 75 ponds in each district in Kerala will be covered under the programme, which is being implemented by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). A target beneficiary group has been identified for each pond based on its utility in fisheries, agriculture or irrigation.

MGNREGS workers execute the works on embankment or catchment areas of the water bodies. Conservation measures like building retaining walls are also being carried out through convergence projects with departments like the Public Works, Irrigation and Fisheries. The cost for reviving each pond varies according to its size and work involved. Generally, they fall in the Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh bracket.

A highlight of the programme is that the ponds are being developed as community spaces. Flag posts are being erected at all sites where the national flag would be hoisted on important days like the Republic Day and the Independence Day. The project also covers renovation of seating facilities on the embankment.

Scientific conservation and restoration measures are being adopted for all ponds. They include inlet and outlet channels and silt traps to prevent soil or sediments entering the pond. Some districts would exceed the target of 75 ponds, like Thiruvananthapuram where 156 ponds are being renovated.

A digital monitoring system of the sites and geo-tagging will be implemented as part of the programme. Details, including photos and videos of the work, and periodical inspections by officers would be recorded on a mobile App. The App will also serve as a platform for continuous monitoring of the sites after the project completion. /BI/