Prayagraj: With over 538 Amrit Sarovars across its rural and urban areas, Prayagraj has secured the third position in Uttar Pradesh in water conservation and harvesting.“These ponds have been constructed across an area of approximately 8,000 hectares and resulted in harvesting and storing 53.8 lakh cubic feet of water,” said deputy commissioner (VB-G Ram G Scheme), Gulab Chand.He said so far 19,978 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed across UP, which is the most in the country.“In this campaign, Gorakhpur leads the state with the completion of 735 ponds and is closely followed by Maharajganj and Prayagraj, which hold the second and third positions, respectively, having constructed 601 and 538 ponds,” he said.Chand said the initiative is not merely limited to the conservation of water sources, as it also plays a pivotal role in strengthening environmental balance in villages, improving groundwater levels and boosting agriculture-based livelihoods.A key highlight of the scheme is that these water bodies have not been designed merely as receptacles for collecting water. Each Amrit Sarovar has been developed over a minimum area of one acre, boasting a water storage capacity of approximately 10,000 cubic metres.Basic amenities such as paved pathways, benches, lighting and plantation have also been provided around the ponds.This scheme has not only been linked to environmental conservation but has also been made beneficial for the rural economy. The tasks of excavating, desilting and beautifying the Amrit Sarovars have been integrated with the VB-G Ram Ji Scheme (formerly MGNREGA). As a result, lakhs of rural families across the state are securing employment right within their own villages.These water conservation efforts are serving as a strong foundation for rural prosperity, environmental protection and the realisation of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India), the official added.
