UDAIPUR: A small initiative by the district administration to expand the types of works under MGNREGA to provide a wider range of options to beneficiaries has earned it large appreciation. Following the suit, green vegetable plantation and maintenance work at water bodies to facilitate better irrigation are likely to be adopted statewide as new activities under the scheme.
At the recently concluded video conferencing program, the authorities of the Panchayati Raj department not only took note of the progress under the convergence initiatives but also instructed CEOs of other Zila Parishads to work on similar plans according to the geographical conditions of their areas.
In Udaipur, the administration has already embarked upon these two activities as farmers have been selected for growing vegetables and 129 water bodies have been identified for maintenance.
Nearly 35 lakes are under the irrigation department while 94 water bodies come under the various panchayats in the district, said Collector Ashutosh A T Pednekar. Under the project ‘Jaldhara’, maintenance and development of the water bodies and surroundings, seep trenching at the promenade (Paal), repairing canals and cleaning activities will be done. The objective is to increase water availability for irrigation, rain water conservation and boost to tourism, he said.