75 ponds in Karnal to be revived

Tribune News Service

Karnal, June 25

As many as 75 ponds in the district will get new lease of life soon. Under the Amrit Sarovar scheme, these ponds, which are littered with garbage and have become health hazards for residents, are being cleaned and rejuvenated by the Panchayati Raj Department.

Trees to be planted along banks

The development of these ponds is being done as per the prescribed norms. For beautification, trees will be planted on the banks of these ponds for ensuring healthy environment. Anish Yadav, deputy commissioner

Works on three ponds have been completed, while digging and cleaning work of 48 ponds has started. A sum of around Rs 30 crore will be incurred on the revival of ponds and the deadline is August 15.

The Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority had prepared action plans for the restoration and revival of all polluted ponds, including the overflowing ones.

“Under the Amrit Sarovar scheme launched by the Prime Minister, we have identified 75 ponds for revival works. Of them, three have been completed, while work on 48 is underway. Designs of 16 ponds are being prepared by the Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority. Tenders of three ponds have been floated and work is likely to start in the next few days. In some ponds, there are issues related to fisheries which are being resolved,” said Anish Yadav, Deputy Commissioner.

The development of these ponds is being done as per the prescribed norms such as area, depth, construction of embankments with proper slope among others, said the DC. For beautification, trees will be planted on the banks of these ponds for ensuring healthy environment, he added. These ponds are being rejuvenated with the help of constructed wetland process to treat waste water of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), said Parminder Singh, XEN, PRI.

About the process, he said after identification of ponds, water is being drained off, while in several ponds de-silting work is being done. Later, digging work will be done if required. Under the phytorid technology, plants are used for purification of filthy water, which will further be used for micro irrigation by the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA), he said. He maintained that most of the ponds were overflowing as they were choked, due to which they required de-silting and digging work, he added.

This technology will not only help in recharging the groundwater, but also help in enhancing the capacity of the ponds, he maintained. As per an official, rapid and extensive extraction of groundwater has made Karnal block among the exploited blocks of the state.

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