WARANGAL: Jangaon district collector Rizwan Basha Shaik has launched a new initiative called Mana Jilla-Mana Neeru, aimed at guaranteeing clean air and water for all in the district. This initiative emphasises the importance of increasing tree planting efforts to enhance air quality and preserve rainwater to replenish groundwater supplies. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the district collector shared his ambitious plan to construct 5,000 rainwater harvesting pits and plant approximately 30 lakh saplings throughout the district as part of the state government’s Vana Mahotsavam programme. He mentioned the necessity of ensuring clean air and unpolluted water for future generations, emphasising our duty to provide a healthier and sustainable future for those who come after us. “As part of this initiative, the district administration aimed to create 5,000 soak pits. Remarkably, they exceeded this goal by constructing around 7,000 pits across the district,” said Rizwan Basha Shaik. He also noted that the district administration plans to plant around 30 lakh saplings this season and has already planted about 18 lakh saplings so far. “Water serves as a vital resource for both drinking and agricultural needs. With this in mind and the onset of the monsoon season, we have begun building low-cost soak pits to ensure that every drop of rainwater is absorbed into the ground to prevent wastage,” the collector said. Meanwhile, the officials have been directed to ensure the establishment of at least one soak pit in every household as well as in government offices, schools and hospitals wherever feasible in the district. These soak pits will help guarantee that there is an adequate supply of drinking and agricultural water in the future, he said. Madhuri Shah, the chief executive officer of zilla parishad, said the households typically waste water. She emphasised that if water can be utilized properly, future generations will not have to contend with water shortages. To combat the water crisis, it is essential for every household to construct a soak pit, which will significantly elevate the groundwater levels. With declining groundwater levels each year, soak pits represent a vital solution for replenishing them, she said. District panchayat officer N. Swaroopa said the collector has entrusted the critical job of building soak pits and planting saplings to village panchayat staff. The personnel are encouraged to utilise waste rocks and debris from demolished structures in villages, which can be transported to the pit locations using panchayat tractors, thus minimising construction costs. Swaroopa also mentioned that the expense for a small soak pit is about `500 and that this initiative will yield substantial benefits in the long run. She congratulated all village, mandal and district authorities for their diligent work on this project.
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