Nainital district to build 23 recharge shafts to recharge groundwater in three blocks

Friday, 18 November 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN

The Nainital district administration will build 23 recharge shafts in three blocks of the district to recharge the groundwater through rainwater. The three blocks chosen for the construction of shafts are Haldwani, Kotabagh and Ramnagar and the Nainital district magistrate Dhiraaj Singh Garbyal has already approved a budget of Rs 67.22 lakh for the project. There has been a considerable decline in groundwater level in many areas of the country considering which, the administration has decided to adopt this technique which will not just recharge the groundwater level but will replenish aquifers too, said the Nainital chief development officer (CDO) Sandeep Tiwari. He said that groundwater is the main source of water which tends to be declining in recent times and the district irrigation department is planning to recharge it using rainwater as the district witnesses plenty of rain every year. He said, “Each recharge shaft will have the capacity to recharge 52 litres of water. They are designed in double chamber fashion and all of them would have provision for removing silt and other unwanted material to prevent their seepage during groundwater recharge.” He informed that the construction of recharge shafts, most of which are being built in the rural locations of these blocks, will help to tackle water scarcity issues during summers. He stated that replenishment of aquifers through the shaft will also help in water supply through tube wells and hand pumps of nearby areas which will benefit locals too. The department has started the construction work in the blocks which is expected to be completed by this financial year, added the CDO.