sanjaychhikara
June 14th, 2003, 07:11 PM
This is an ever increasing problem!!
SPECIAL FOCUS ON JHAJJAR/BAHADURGARH
Men and animals in this drought-affected district
struggle for survival
Our Correspondent
Jhajjar, June 13
A waterless summer in this drought-affected district has not only put the residents on trial, but even the cattle are feeling the pinch of the scorching heat.
This rural based district, which has about 265 villages in five blocks, is basically a drought prone region where two of its blocks, Salawas and Matanhale, are situated in sandy areas where canal water is unavailable.
To make matters worse, the ground water here is brackish and the water table in the district is fast depleting, as the annual rainfall over the last decade has been quite low. In the given circumstances, shortage of water for drinking and other purposes is bound to arise during this summer season.
However, this time, the situation is far more serious as the traditional water reservoirs like ponds have gone dry in many villages, which pose a serious problem of non-availability of water for the cattle.
Even as the people manage to arrange some water for drinking, it has become an impossible task to arrange water for the cattle. According to the information available, most of the ponds in the rural areas, which were the main source of water for the cattle, have dried up.
The water crisis has also created economic problems for the people dependent on cattle for their daily earnings. In effect, under such adverse condition when fodder and water has become a scare commodity, it is proving extremely difficult for the people to keep their cattle. Moreover, the milk produced by the animals has been drastically reduced, forcing the owners to sell their cattle at throwaway prices.
A random survey of some of the villages presented some startling facts. In many of the villages, including in Silana, Gizodhore, Utlodha, Katli and Bhatera, the ponds have gone dry.
Even where some water is available, it has turned “greenish” and become unsuitable for consumption. The villagers said that the rainwater was the only source to fill these reservoirs during the monsoon season.
Although in some villages which had an access to canal water, the ponds were being filled by diverting the water of the canal, it could be done only after receiving the permission of the district administration.
Realising the seriousness of the water crisis, particularly for the cattle, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mohinder Kumar, called a meeting of the district officials and directed them to arrange water for these drought-affected villages. The Deputy Commissioner also informed that water and power supply had been restored in about sixteen villages where a heavy storm had displaced the electric poles and damaged the water supply infrastructure last week.
He said that the storm had inflicted heavy damages in some villages of Jhajjar and Rewari district, disconnecting the power supply in these areas. However, the Deputy Commissioner complained that the administration had launched the restoration work on “war footing” and erected about 300 new electric poles, which were displaced by the storm.
Consequently, essential services including water supply was hampered due to the lack of electricity, which has now been restored in Sehlanga, Jhamri, Jhasua, Mohanbari, Khanpur Kalan, Khanpur Khurd, Korda, Goria Jharli, Dhalanbas, Vajidpur, Salawas, Bhurawas, Liloheri, Mundahera, Amboli, Salawas and Matenhale villages. He assured that water tankers have been deployed in remote villages to tackle the water crisis.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030614/ncr1.htm#11
SPECIAL FOCUS ON JHAJJAR/BAHADURGARH
Men and animals in this drought-affected district
struggle for survival
Our Correspondent
Jhajjar, June 13
A waterless summer in this drought-affected district has not only put the residents on trial, but even the cattle are feeling the pinch of the scorching heat.
This rural based district, which has about 265 villages in five blocks, is basically a drought prone region where two of its blocks, Salawas and Matanhale, are situated in sandy areas where canal water is unavailable.
To make matters worse, the ground water here is brackish and the water table in the district is fast depleting, as the annual rainfall over the last decade has been quite low. In the given circumstances, shortage of water for drinking and other purposes is bound to arise during this summer season.
However, this time, the situation is far more serious as the traditional water reservoirs like ponds have gone dry in many villages, which pose a serious problem of non-availability of water for the cattle.
Even as the people manage to arrange some water for drinking, it has become an impossible task to arrange water for the cattle. According to the information available, most of the ponds in the rural areas, which were the main source of water for the cattle, have dried up.
The water crisis has also created economic problems for the people dependent on cattle for their daily earnings. In effect, under such adverse condition when fodder and water has become a scare commodity, it is proving extremely difficult for the people to keep their cattle. Moreover, the milk produced by the animals has been drastically reduced, forcing the owners to sell their cattle at throwaway prices.
A random survey of some of the villages presented some startling facts. In many of the villages, including in Silana, Gizodhore, Utlodha, Katli and Bhatera, the ponds have gone dry.
Even where some water is available, it has turned “greenish” and become unsuitable for consumption. The villagers said that the rainwater was the only source to fill these reservoirs during the monsoon season.
Although in some villages which had an access to canal water, the ponds were being filled by diverting the water of the canal, it could be done only after receiving the permission of the district administration.
Realising the seriousness of the water crisis, particularly for the cattle, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mohinder Kumar, called a meeting of the district officials and directed them to arrange water for these drought-affected villages. The Deputy Commissioner also informed that water and power supply had been restored in about sixteen villages where a heavy storm had displaced the electric poles and damaged the water supply infrastructure last week.
He said that the storm had inflicted heavy damages in some villages of Jhajjar and Rewari district, disconnecting the power supply in these areas. However, the Deputy Commissioner complained that the administration had launched the restoration work on “war footing” and erected about 300 new electric poles, which were displaced by the storm.
Consequently, essential services including water supply was hampered due to the lack of electricity, which has now been restored in Sehlanga, Jhamri, Jhasua, Mohanbari, Khanpur Kalan, Khanpur Khurd, Korda, Goria Jharli, Dhalanbas, Vajidpur, Salawas, Bhurawas, Liloheri, Mundahera, Amboli, Salawas and Matenhale villages. He assured that water tankers have been deployed in remote villages to tackle the water crisis.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030614/ncr1.htm#11