Hans News Service Tirupati

Thedistrict administration has begun steps to strengthen water resource management with the planned implementation of Jaladhara–Jalaharathi initiative. District Collector Dr S Venkateswar directed the officials to implement the programme in a comprehensive and systematic manner across the district during a review meeting held at the Collectorate on Wednesday.

The Collector said the Jaladhara–Jalaharathi programme would be crucial for the next four to five years. He advised departments to adopt the model successfully implemented in Annamayya district and focus on interlinking tanks, canals and streams to conserve rainwater effectively. Scientific basin-level plans should be prepared in coordination with the irrigation department, he said.

Proper implementation would help improve groundwater levels, expand the extent of cultivation and increase farmers’ incomes. The programme is also expected to support livestock development and dairy production, reduce electricity consumption and lower government expenditure. It would further help reduce rural migration by creating local employment opportunities, the Collector added.

Venkateswar instructed officials to prepare a special 100-day action plan for the programme. Priority works should be identified and implemented in phases. Committees should be formed at village, mandal and district levels to ensure effective execution and monitoring.

He asked officials to coordinate closely with recently elected Water Users Association representatives and make use of their understanding of local conditions to improve results. Officials should assess the present condition of tanks, evaluate water storage levels and identify required works before categorising tanks and preparing action plans.

Field-level meetings should be conducted near water bodies instead of mandal offices, and officials should interact directly with farmers to identify local issues and resolve them quickly. He said the initiative would help conserve water resources while promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development in the district.

Tirupati RDO B Rammohan, Irrigation DE D Radha Kkrishna Murthy, District Panchayat Officer Suseela Devi, DWMA PD Srinivasa Rao, DRDA PD T Sobhan Babu, Agriculture Officer Prasad Rao and other officials attended the meeting.