TURA: Garo Hills-based NGO, BAKDIL, which is active in a number of health and livelihood missions across the region, launched the Springshed Based Watershed Development Programme at Sakaboldamgre in Gambegre block on Thursday.
Local legislator and chairman of the State Government Programme Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Saleng A Sangma, inaugurated the project alongside Bishop of Tura, Andrew R Marak and a host of other dignitaries and locals from the area.
The programme, which is funded by NABARD for around Rs 54.6 lakh, is a three-year project. The project aims to conserve and sustain the groundwater and soil, alleviating poverty through creation of employment, enhancing agriculture production, productivity and livelihood of the people in the dryland regions.
Gambegre region has a year-long water shortage problem and once commissioned, the new project will be able to support a total of 300 hectares of watershed area, which will be divided into its respective springsheds.
Highlighting the efforts of the government in trying to mitigate the problem of water scarcity, legislator, Saleng A Sangma, informed that several government schemes and projects are currently ongoing.
“However, if there is no will and interest in the people, then these projects will go to waste,” the legislator said. Appreciating NABARD and BAKDIL for coming up with such projects, which will revive the dying springs, he expressed dismay over the rampant destruction of forest cover, which is causing rivers and springs to dry up.
He pointed out that one of the causes of ground water destruction was the wide-scale rubber plantations across Garo Hills.
BAKDIL director, Fr Sunny Mavelil also announced that the locals will be provided with three months training in masonry and later employed for constructing the watershed.
Joining the chorus for preservation of forests and natural water retention, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, gave an encouraging talk to the village people on rainwater harvesting.