In 27th Annual General meeting of National Institute of Hydrology Society which was presided over by Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Union Minister for Water Resources at Rookree yesterday, Kaul Singh Thakur, Irrigation and Public Health Minister strongly pleaded for approving the projects of snow water harvesting in higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh particularly snow bound areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts. He said that it has also been proved that the projects would also help for construction of check dams and prevent snow coming down in winter season in the form of avalanches and glaciers. He further said that the deposits of snow on the mountains on large scale also used to cause damage to irrigation channels and drinking water supply schemes which could be saved, if snow water harvesting projects, approved for these districts in the State.
Thakur also strongly pleaded for sanctioning and setting up of a Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) for Hiamhcal Pradesh to impart training to the engineers/officials of Irrigation and Public Health Department of the State of Hiamchal Pradesh, Uttranchal and Jammu and Kashmir where the terrains were hilly and working conditions quite different that of the plains. He said that at present our engineers and officials of the three States were getting training in Water & Land Management Institute at Amritsar and Punjab.
He also urged the Central Government to take up the matter of Parechu lake and other related activities over river Satluj with the China Government and added that due to flash floods the damage caused over Rs. 400 to Rs. 500 crore during the last two and three years.
He said that the State has also laid great stress on Rain Water and Snow Harvesting. It has been made mandatory to provide roof top rain water harvesting structures in all the new buildings in urban areas of the State, he added. He said that the Irrigation and Public Health Department is also providing roof top harvesting in Government buildings and schools in a phased manner.
snow water harvesting methods is a must in these seasonal snow bound regions as it recharges the ground water table and make people sustain these water in drought conditions.