Himachal First Multipurpose Rain Water Harvesting Dam Constructed In UNA

Himachal’s first ever multipurpose rain harvesting dam has been constructed by  Jal Shakti Vibhag  at samoor khad near  village Samoor in  Una District with a total cost of Rs 16.38 crore  by storing the rainwater in massive reservoir collected from  catchment area of 10 Square KM, that can help 5580 people living in  water deficient areas survive during dry seasons said Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar here today Himachal Chief Minister Sh Jai Ram Thakur ji will inaugurate this dam during this March  month The dam constructed on hillocks to store rainwater  to allow rainwater to percolate underground to raise the water table.which used to   quickly drain off the rocky soil and hilly terrain, the rain-fed dry area  was a symbol of the rapidly depleting groundwater level in this hilly region .the Terrain and the underlying geological structure led to most of the average annual rainfall  draining away, leaving the soil dry and the groundwater availability low,The  cost effective  dam  built  on samoor khad is  able to store up to 767 Million Liter of water  to  increase the groundwater level in geographically difficult areas said Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar here today The water from the dam is sufficient to irrigate  233 hectares of crops   and combat weather vagaries    of   surrounding Nine rocky hilly   villages for the entire year which will directly benefit 1088 families living in the area  to face onslaught of  incremental heat and eventual drought. .This scheme which was in pipeline for over a decade has seen the light of the day during the present BJP regime .
The  whole hill range has been  used as a catchment for the reservoir with  all the advantages of the large dams and can be used as a reservoir for irrigation needs  of  5580 population living in    surrounding    Samoor Kalan, Samoor Khurd, Lamlehri, Boul Upperli, Boul Jhikli,Karwalian Sanhal, Pernolian Sanhal, Malonia Sanhal & Balh (Total 9 Nos.)  villages for greening  the land  and  recharge groundwater by   conserving each rain drop by  putting in place a resource management system.These are all rocky hilly villages where rain water slips in to lower valley side in Swan River  thus leaving the entire area water deficient throughout the year said Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar here today Around    44 hand pumps and 31 wells which almost dry up during drought season in the areas will also be  recharged through this dam during irrigation activities.The farmers, who almost left cultivation due to lack of seasonal rains  or they barely grow one crop a year,  due to lack of irrigations are now will able to grow cash crops/fruits and vegetables which is transforming the economy of the region  “For the first time, villagers managed to grow citrus fruits like  ,  guava, litchi,  pomegranate  mausmi etc   through HP SHIVA project launched by Horticulture Department in these villages for optimum use of irrigation facilities .The seedling by the fishery department has been done in the reservation to grow best quality fish and this will  give another chance of employment to local people to start fisheries and  tourism activities  under the aegis of  KTDS (kutlehar tourism development society ) to generate one more step towards employment through fishing and tourism .The state  govt will develop this area as a model in convergence with various departments and involving the experts drawn from agriculture , horticulture, Tourism  and animal husbandry etc said Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar here today In the catchment of about 10 square KMs , this RWHS will cater irrigation facility to 9 numbers villages to 1088 families of 5580 populationThe Lift Irrigation scheme has been  designed to irrigate the area of 9 villages for 233 hect with gravity as well as by lifting the water back on the hill in the same catchment from where it comes down as runoff and goes down without recharging the rocky mountainous land at up hills and cause a flood havoc on lower reigen . In this way this flood water will change the economy of those people who can’t even imagine such type irrigation facilities in that area where tube wells are not possible. Now through this scheme it will not only provide irrigation to the area but also recharge the 31 local wells, 44 hand pumps as well Tube wells. And thus through this way it will also change the   ecosystem       of the area and also improve the economy and living standard of the  people as well help to grow more eco friendly species in the area said Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar here today The state government  water conservation efforts have paid off. “The water level in many localities has increased drastically as a result of this initiative.
The water is now available at a depth of 60 feet as against 300-400 feet earlier  said Virender Kanwar Rural Development Minister