If there’s one thing in this world that we can’t live without, it’s water. However, the increasing global warming, lack of care and maintenance of rivers, ponds and wells have resulted in the premature drying up of millions of water bodies in the country. Realizing the importance of water and pledging to bring them back into existence, IAS officer Mr Mayur Dixit has rejuvenated thousands of water bodies in Uttarakhand and is continuing to do so.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, he talks about his mission in detail.
REVIVING RIVER KOSI IN ALMORA
The 2012 batch officer and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur is known for his love for nature. Since the beginning of his administrative career, he has been taking steps and involving people into reviving water bodies.
While he was posted in Almora, Uttarakhand, the officer worked to rejuvenate River Kosi, a non-glacial river considered a lifeline of Almora town in the Kumaon region in the state. The officer worked in 60 districts for the project to become successful, dug thousands of trenches and planted lakhs of trees during the process.
“The reviving project gained us a name in the Limca Book of records for planting maximum plants in a time span of one hour, that too in a mountainous region. The project is still being implemented in a big way and the result is quite noticeable,” Mr. Dixit told Indian Masterminds.
WATER BODY REJUVENATION IN UDHAM SINGH NAGAR
While posted as the chief development officer of Udham Singh Nagar, Mr. Dixit helped revive over 550 water bodies, including ponds, streams, springs and rivulets
“We removed all the encroachments and dump collected in the water bodies, got it cleaned, filled these with water and by linking them with fisheries and water animals, recharged the ponds and lakes,” he said.
The rejuvenation of water bodies led to the availability of water for cattle and agricultural land where the canal system is yet to reach. His work was even recognized by the Union Ministry of Water Resources.
‘MISSION INDRAVATI’
Currently posted as the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, Mr. Dixit has launched ‘Mission Indravati’ to revive the most important river of the city – Indravati, a tributary of River Ganga. Indravati is a 12-km-long river and a primary source of irrigation for at least 5,000 people of 11 villages in the district. It supports the lives and livelihood of thousands.
“It is a big project and is going on in full swing. It will take time but I am positive that we will soon recharge the river and bring it back into its original form,” the officer told Indian Masterminds.
PROCESS OF REVIVAL
Talking about the process of rejuvenating rivers, Mr. Dixit explained that it’s important to increase groundwater table of the mountains, as the water discharged by these mountains creates streams that go on to merge into a river.
“If the groundwater level goes low, the streams start drying up and so does the river. This happens because these are not glacial rivers and a water body depends on the groundwater to keep them filled,” says Mr. Dixit.
To revive a pond, lake, or river and recharge the groundwater table, the officer gets trenches dug and initiates plantation. The trenches collect rainwater and thus recharge the groundwater table. Mr Dixit has involved locals, military personnel, school children and the administration in the projects by motivating the villagers to collect rainwater under Prime Minister’s “Catch the rain” campaign.
He believes that water is the most important resource we have, and life will literally come to a stop without it. He wants us to save water and use it appropriately as it helps with agriculture, promoting wildlife and avoiding forest fires.
