https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Jaladharini: Rejuvenating Old and Derelict Water Bodies in Dooars

The Alipurduar district administration is restoring old derelict water bodies under Project Jaladharini Dooars. A large number of waterbodies, including community ponds and farm ponds, have been excavated in phases. This is being done to meet demands of water supply for agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture,as well as for the public during dry seasons.
Indian Masterminds Stories

While groundwater resources and rivers have always been the focus of policy makers in India to fight water crisis, water bodies are usually overlooked. The lakes, ponds, tanks, baolis and other such natural or man-made sources of water have been supplying drinking water for domestic needs and agriculture through the ages. Recognizing the significance of such old water bodies, the Alipurduar district administration has taken up a major water conservation project named as ‘Jaladharini Dooars’, through which, moribund water bodies will be rejuvenated. So far, 240 (53 community ponds and 187 farm ponds) water bodies have been excavated in phases under MGNREGA.

Indian Masterminds spoke to District Magistrate of Alipuduar, 2011-batch IAS officer,Mr. Surendra Kumar Meena, and found out more details about the project.

District Magistrate of Alipuduar, 2011-batch IAS officer,Mr. Surendra Kumar Meena

THE SCOPE

The Jaladharini schemes are being taken up with a total cost of Rs.906.80 lakhs wherein 3,98,753 mandays will be generated. About 30,000 to 35,000 persons will benefit from this noble initiative. With excavation and rejuvenation of water bodies being taken up on such a large scale, water resources are naturally going to increase in the district.

THE NAME

The Dooars region of North Bengal falls along the outer Himalayan foothills and is lined with tea gardens and wildlife parks. ‘Jaladharini’ means a land which preserves water. ‘Jaladharini Dooars’ is the name given to the project to highlight its one-point agenda: to conserve water. The project was initiated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself.

THE TARGET

Talking to Indian Masterminds, District Magistrate of Alipuduar, Mr. Surendra Kumar Meena said, “We have been facing water scarcity for long and the water level has gone down, too. So, we decided to excavate a large number of water bodies. A special programme was held in every block on 9Februaryto excavate 240 pondsunder Jaladharini Dooars project to meet the demands of water supply for agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, and for the general public during the dry season.”

He added that there are a large number of derelict water bodies, which are in urgent need of excavation. The rejuvenation of these water bodies is the prime target of the Project Jaladharini.

Biswakarma Jhora (water body)

BIO-DIVERSITY PARK

One more achievement of the administration is the restoration of the Biswakarma Jhora (water body), also known locally as Padma Pukur, and its subsequent development into a bio-diversity park. It has already started attracting many avian visitors such as Cormorants, Lesser Whistling Ducks, and River Lapwings.

Another derelict pond nearby is being excavated as an extension of Biswakarma Jhora, and will be converted to Matsya Abhay Ashram, wherein species of indigenous fish of Dooars will be reared for ex-situ conservation. The district administration is also planning take up bee keeping at the site.

The restoration work of Biswakarma Jhora, spread across 20 bighas of land, through MGNREGA has generated livelihood opportunities for the people residing in the periphery of the Biswakarma Jhora, as well.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
Nitin Gadkari
India to Become Net Energy Exporter in 6-7 Years, Highlights Hydrogen and Biofuels: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Bank of India - BOI
Bank of India Plans to Raise Rs 20,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds in FY 2025-26
BEML Limited
For Operational Excellence, BEML Lays Foundation of State-of-the-Art Central Warehousing Centre in Bilaspur
rec-logo
Green Energy Boost: REC Forms New Subsidiary for 3GW Ananthapuram-II REZ Transmission Project
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel’s Pro-People Move: Uniform House Tax of ₹200 Annually for Rural Government-Assisted Homes in Gujarat
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar: Gaya to Become Bihar’s Largest Industrial Township Under AKIC; ₹16,524 Cr Investment Expected
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT