Assam government ensures water bodies' sustainability under Mission Amrit Sarovar
Feb 17, 2024
Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 17 : The Assam Government recently notified the responsibilities for managing and maintaining the 'sarovars' constructed in Mission Amrit Sarovar (Assam Model) under the state's Panchayat and Rural Development Department.
Notably, the Government of India launched Mission Amrit Sarovar on April 24, 2022, as a part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' in the 75th year of independence across the country. Under this mission, the target was set for developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district across the country with an aim for water conservation.
Under the Assam Model, Amrit sarovars that are constructed in the land of educational institutions such as government schools, religious institutions, government-registered cooperative societies or tea garden areas have been entrusted with the onus of maintaining the sarovars within their respective areas.
Similarly, the Amrit Sarovar that falls within the jurisdiction of the Forest Department will automatically assume ownership of the same and the management rights will be given to dwellers of the forest villages wherever the notified forest villages exist.
In addition to the categories mentioned above, Amrit sarovars on government lands other than institutional lands, including Professional Grazing Reserved Land (PGRs) and Village Grazing Reserved Land (VRGs), will be under the ownership of the Gaon Panchayats or equivalent local-level bodies of the autonomous councils in the Sixth Scheduled Areas.
These notified bodies will hand over the Sarovar to the Cluster Level Federation (CLF) of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM).
Another important aspect of the Assam Model of Amrit sarovars is that the CLFs will also take up fish farming activities in the sarovars under their respective areas and share 1/4th of their net annual profit with the respective local-level bodies, which will be considered their source of revenue (OSR) by the Gaon Panchayat or the equivalent local-level bodies of the autonomous councils in the Sixth Scheduled Areas.
