Role of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in water conservation

Abstract

Sources of Natural water resources are diminishing day by day. Today the water crisis has manifested itself as a very big problem. In our country the potable water is not available in many parts of the country despite India being a land of rivers. This problem is a great challenge not only for the Government but for the entire mankind. Growing population, industrialization, soil erosion and loss of forests cover has

aggravated the problem manifold. In the present study, in the blocks of Khaniadhana and Kolaras in Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh it was found that under MGNREGA, 974 works have been undertaken for water conservation and enrichment since the inception of the programme in the years 2006 to 2010. This includes ponds, check dams, stop dams, water conservation structures, irrigation wells, drinking water wells etc. These water conservation efforts have resulted in growth of irrigation facilities in 5281 ha. of land and the number of khet talab is 2422, which have helped in the irrigation of 9934 ha of land. MGNREGA programme have eased the problem of drinking water to a large extent. If we see the MGNREGA programme in the environmental perspective it seems that MGNREGA has not only beautified the villages but it is also a positive effort in the direction of water conservation.