In its latest composite water resources management report, the Niti Ayog has lauded the efforts made by the Rajasthan government in the conservation of surface water. Although the reports state that it has yet to work towards providing quality drinking water to the rural populace, the efforts made for water conservation are appreciable.
Reportedly, the state has restored 80% irrigation potential of the identified bodies through community managed water bodies like ponds and tanks. Further, the report suggests that Rajasthan has improved its score across the indicators of participatory irrigation. In 75% of the irrigation areas, Water Users Association is involved in Operation and Maintenance. Besides, 95% of all user fees have been retained by the associations.
Source: Times of India
The state is making progress by providing WUAs a crucial role in the Indira Gandhi Canal redevelopment plan worth 100 Dollar Million. As compared to the base year 205-16, the state has made a significant improvement in the year 2016-17 from 3% to 81%.
Furthermore, Rajasthan has also improved in terms of the geo-tagging water conservation in the last 2 years. It has managed to geo-tag 55,000 assets in a single year. Through community galvanization led by local officers and NGOs,
Rajasthan, as well as Madhya Pradesh, have succeeded in restoring tradition water bodies like ponds and tanks.
Rajasthan has gained the second position after Haryana in wastewater treatment. By increasing its wastewater treatment capacity in one year, Rajasthan now treats 71% of its urban wastewater as opposed to 42% in the base year 2015-16.
