Jharkhand’s MGNREGA team visited the Jashpur Forest Division and conducted an inspection of the groundwater treatment works
Raipur: The innovative Narva Development Program (NDP) of the Chhattisgarh Government has earned accolades from senior officials of Jharkhand during their inspection of groundwater treatment projects in Chhattisgarh. Aligned with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s vision and guided by Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, numerous Narva Development projects aimed at groundwater treatment are underway in remote forest areas under the CAMPA scheme.
V Shrinivas Rao, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, revealed that the Jharkhand officials, associated with ‘MGNREGA,’ conducted an inspection in the Lodam Beat of the Jashpur forest area. Their tour included a visit to the Narva Jamjharia Canal, constructed at a cost of Rs. 1 crore 35 lakhs for soil treatment and conservation. Jitendra Upadhyay, the Divisional Forest Officer of Jashpur, provided technical insights into soil conservation construction. The Jharkhand team commended the well-planned soil conservation structure, noting its size, shape, and water flow aspects. This structure, approximately 3 meters deep and 800 meters long, facilitates water flow.
During their visit, the inspection team engaged with local farmers who attested that the dam’s construction had generated 4 to 5 months of employment for around 100 farmers in the vicinity. Furthermore, access to water has allowed for double-cropping on approximately 20 acres of land, greatly benefiting the villagers. Additionally, enthusiasm for forest protection among villagers has surged, leading to increased participation. In July, the Forest Management Committee introduced fish seeds into the dam, creating an additional income source. The Jamjhariya Canal spans a total catchment area of 760 hectares.
Post their examination of the Jamjharia Canal, the inspection team evaluated tree plantation work along the roadside under the ‘MGNREGA’ scheme. They commended the initiative, especially the protection of plants using bamboo tree guards. Additionally, the inspection team visited the Balachhapar nursery in the Jashpur region, where fruit, flowering, and medicinal plants are cultivated. They praised the quality and maintenance of the plants.
This visit by senior officials from the Jharkhand Government took place on September 11, 2023, in the Jashpur Forest Division. The delegation included Chandrashekhar, Secretary of the Department of Panchayat & Rural Development; Siddharth Tripathi, Chief Conservator of Forests, Research, Department of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change; Rajeshwari B, Commissioner of MGNREGA; Rajiv Ranjan, State Program Officer of MGNREGA; Nihar Ranjan, State Program Officer of MGNREGA; and Prem Shekhar Gupta, Assistant Engineer of MGNREGA. They assessed the progress of work under the MGNREGA and Narva Development Program in the Jashpur Forest Division, Chhattisgarh. Their visit was marked by a warm welcome from Ravi Mittal, the Collector of Jashpur; Jitendra Kumar Upadhyay, the Divisional Forest Officer of Jashpur; and Sambit Mishra, Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat.
