SAMBALPUR: THE district administration’s plan to renovate 427 traditional water harvesting structures (TWHS) under MGNREGS before the onset of monsoon has failed to achieve its target as 388 water bodies could be renovated within the stipulated time. The renovation, which began in April, covered water bodies across nine blocks of the district at an estimated cost of `26.35 crore. While the administration surpassed the target set for Bamra, Kuchinda, Maneswar and Jamankira blocks, it failed to achieve the target for Dhankauda, Jujumura, Naktideul, Rairakhol and Rengali blocks.
As per the final report, 60 water bodies have been renovated against the target of 55 water bodies in Bamra block, 44 water bodies renovated against target of 43 in Kuchinda block, 38 TWHS renovated against target of 36 in Maneswar block and the entire target of 62 TWHS has been achieved in Jamankira block. However, work in the rest five blocks have remained incomplete. Only eight water bodies have been renovated against the target of 18 in Dhankauda block, 67 against target of 69 in Jujumura block, 37 against target of 44 in Naktideul block, 40 against target of 58 in Rairakhol block and 32 against target of 42 in Rengali block.
The villagers, reeling under water crisis during summer, also lent their helping hand under MGNREGS in response to the administration’s call. Many water bodies have been filled up with deposition of silt over the years but have enormous potential to hold water. The renovated TWHS will collect water during the current monsoon which the villagers can use round the year. Co-ordinator of MGNREGS, Sambalpur, Shobhit Kumar Bishi said they worked hard to achieve the target. However, they could not achieve full success as they had only two months at hand to accomplish the task. They would start work early next year and try to finish the rest of the work, he added.