- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 01 Apr 2025 04:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A new campaign will be launched in the third week of April under the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan to remove encroachments from traditional water sources, particularly ponds, across the Gopalganj district.
The initiative aims to restore these water bodies to their original state. During an aerial survey conducted across all 14 blocks of the district, a total of 6,549 public water sources and 360 private water sources were identified. Among the public sources, 719 ponds have been encroached upon.
As part of the campaign, notices have already been issued, and encroachments on some ponds have been cleared. In the second phase, zonal officials will take responsibility for removing encroachments and restoring the ponds.
So far, 314 ponds across various blocks have been freed from encroachment. This phase aims to tackle the remaining encroachments and will restart the campaign, which had been stalled for the past year.
Under the MGNREGA scheme, ponds covering up to one acre will be restored, with the added development of parks around the pond banks, including tree plantation and the installation of cemented benches for seating.
Here’s a breakdown of encroached ponds by block:
Gopalganj: 24
Manjha: 04
Barauli: 14
Sidhwalia: 41
Baikunthpur: 03
Thawe: 19
Kuchaikot: 31
Hathua: 69
Uchkagaon: 39
Phulwariya: 21
Panchdeori: 14
Kateya: 15
Bhore: 11
Vijayipur: 10