Considering the stress for water and the decline in the groundwater table in Dakshina Kannada district, the zilla panchayat has drawn up a plan to construct around 1500 vented check dams across steams and rivulets in villages in the district.

MR Ravi, Chief Executive Officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, said that the district, which was surplus with water resources earlier, is now facing water scarcity. One of the reasons for stress on water is the depletion in the groundwater table in the district. The zilla panchayat has asked each village panchayat in the district to set up at least five vented check dams across the streams and rivers in the villages concerned.

The construction of the vented check dams is being taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). The construction of vented check dams will help create around 20,000 jobs under MNREGA.

Of the 1500 target for the current financial year, work on 183 vented check-dams has already begun. Stressing the need for recharging borewells in the region, he said each village panchayat has been asked to recharge at least five borewells in its jurisdiction.

The village panchayats have been asked to focus on digging open wells and rejuvenate the existing open wells and traditional tanks and ponds in the villages.

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