Water conservation reaches 53 government schools in Mansa

Mansa: The district administration here has launched a water-conservation project under which soak pits are being dug in 53 government schools to improve groundwater table.

The soak pits will conserve the water which is left after midday meals are cooked and utensils are washed. At some schools, arrangements are also being made to conserve rainwater.

Pits have been dug at 30 schools and are being dug at remaining 23, with funds from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Each pit could conserve up to 350 litres of water every day. Pits are being constructed with support from Bharat Petroleum, under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. Each pit costs Rs 8,500. BPCL is contributing Rs 2,600 for each pit and the rest is being spent from the central government scheme.

Underground water is depleting fast in Punjab. In all, 110 groundwater blocks have been categorized as “overexploited”. In 18 blocks, tubewells cannot be installed without permission. According to data with the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), groundwater has been declining at an “incredibly fast rate” in over 82% areas of Punjab. As per reports with CGWB, annual replenishable groundwater resource in Punjab was 22.53 billion cubic metres (BCM) and the net annual groundwater availability was 20.32 BCM, whereas the annual ground water withdrawal was 34.88 BCM.

In 2016, 65 soak pits were constructed in Aspal Kothe village in the district to conserve water and tackle the problem of contaminated grey water accumulating in streets and reaching the village pond.

The project had won accolades when the Union ministry of rural development had conferred the national award on it in 2017. After few months, 22 soak pits were constructed in Khaira Khurd village in the district. However, the project could not be sustained for more than 3 years at Aspak Kothe village, as locals could not clean the pits. Because of this, 40 soak pits went defunct. “We hope to teach students about the importance of water through this and encourage their parents to conserve water for future use,” said Mansa deputy commissioner Apneet Riyait.

Mansa district MGNREGS coordinator Mandeep Singh said the pits would be six feet and a main chamber was being constructed for water conservation . “The pre-silt tank has been constructed four-foot-deep in the six-foot-deep main chamber to stop silt, vegetables from draining out. Two feet has been kept for brick blast to allow only water filtered through it. Small holes have been made in the tank’s upper portion for water to seep in.”