Water harvesting project helps village economy
From Shashi Pal Jain
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Aug 25 — Mr Y S Ratra, Financial Commissioner, Development, Punjab, inspected the water harvesting project at Nadha village in Kharar tehsil, on Monday. The Chief Conservator of Soils, Punjab, Mr M S Bains, accompanied him.

The water harvesting dam, Nadha, was built by the Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Waste Land Development, Punjab, in 1988-89. An earthern dam of 12½ m height was built across a seasonal nullah in the village, 7 km from Chandigarh in the foot hills of the Shivaliks. Water from 125 hectare of hilly area is collected during rainy season and stored water is used to irrigate 105 hectare land of the village. The project was completed at a cost of Rs 16.80 lakh which included the cost of the dam and the underground conveyance system in the command area.

According to information, prior to water harvesting dam, agriculture was rainfed with low yield. Foodgrain produced was hardly sufficient for the farmers.

The water harvesting project in this village has transformed the economic and social life of villagers. With the availability of irrigation water, the command area started producing double crop, the yield of foodgrains, oil, pulses, oil seeds has increased 3 to 4 times. With the availability of green fooder, milk yield improved considerably, as people started rearing improved breeds of cattle. The pressure of man and animals in the forest area also has been checked, resulting in the development of forest and grasses in the catchment area.

According to information, about 170 families who benefited from this project are all praise for the project. The seasonal nullah where the dam has been built used to damage agriculture lands below during rainy season. The dam has checked soil erosion in the catchment area and also in the command areas. The rise of socio-economic status of villagers can be gauged from the fact that there are about 26 tractors now along with the other agriculture machinery in the village and many houses have all modern facilities.

A notable aspect of the project is that the beneficiaries manage and maintain the project at their own level. A cooperative society has been registered, the income from the sale of water and improved yield of grass and timber from the catchment area is used for the maintenance of the project and to meet other needs.

The Chief Conservator of Soils explained that 69 such water harvesting dams have been completed at a cost of Rs 9 crore since 1986 and irrigation has been provided to 7500 acre of undulating and rainfed areas of the Kandi area. The success of Nadha Dam has been appreciated at various levels. Mr Ratra said all suitable sites, where such water harvesting dams can be constructed will be taken up in the coming year.

SPCA acquires animal ambulance
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — Carrying sick and injured cattle to a veterinary hospital will no longer be a problem, with the acquisition of an ambulance-cum-animal catcher by the local unit of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

First of its kind in North India, this specially-designed truck is a mobile veterinary dispensary and is equipped with medicines, a first-aid box and a tranquiliser gun. It will provide on-the-spot treatment and first-aid to injured and sick animals, before shifting these to some veterinary clinic or hospital.

The vehicle will enable the officials of the organisation to attend to big animals in a more effective way. The current practice is to load such animals, particularly cows, buffaloes and horses, on a 'rehra' or some other vehicle by dragging these with the help of an inclined support. The cumbersome process, involving at least half a dozen people, is tormenting to animals as these normally suffer injuries during dragging.

"We have purchased this vehicle since transportation of big animals needs a large workforce, becoming a headache for us. The process of lifting an animal onto a vehicle is not safe for animals, particularly the ones suffering from serious maladies, and in case where an animal has multiple fractures," says an official of the organisation.

The vehicle, acquired by the SPCA at a cost of about Rs 7 lakh, is fitted with a specially-fabricated platform. The six feet-wide platform, also doubling as the rear door, has been designed in such a way that it can be lowered to the ground level straightaway.

"When the platform is at the ground level, any animal can be moved onto it and can be gradually lifted to the vehicle, after which the animal can be pushed into the vehicle," says Mr Jasbir Ralhan, the president of the organisation. He says the vehicle will save manpower as besides the driver, loading and unloading of animals will need two helpers, which are with the organisation. According to Mr Ralhan, the amount spent on the vehicle was granted by former MP Mr Satya Pal Jain, out of his Local Area Development Fund.

The vehicle can be called for by any resident by informing the SPCA Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in Sector 38 (West). It will normally carry two helpers. "in case the animal is serious, we will depute the doctor with the vehicle so that the animal can be treated by him on the spot," he adds.

He says to make the lift system fool-proof, an additional mechanical lift system will be fitted to rule out the possibility of the platform getting stuck. The vehicle will be used by the organisation for its ongoing vaccination programme, he adds. the vehicle service will start in the second week of September.