Art of Living's project has benefited over 2 lac people: Sri Sri

Social organisation Art of Living Foundation today claimed its project ‘Jal Jagruti Abhiyaan’ has benefited over two lakh people in the drought-affected districts of Maharashtra since its launch in 2013.

The project aims to rejuvenate water sources that have dried up due to erratic monsoons and overuse of ground water.  The major work includes removal of silt on dried up water bodies.

“Over two lakh people have been benefited in the state since launch of the project in 2013. About 28.5 lakh cubic meters of silt have been removed from six rivers in Latur, one of the worst drought-hit districts, due to which 10,150 acres of land have been irrigated,” Foundation’s founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, told PTI.

Sri Sri visited Latur yesterday and took a stock of Manjra river site.

“In the wake of severe drought conditions in several districts of Maharashtra, Art of Living volunteers under the project have been actively working towards reviving, cleaning and rejuvenating water bodies in Latur, Jalgaon, Osmanabad, Jalna, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Nashik, Satara,” he said.

Under the river rejuvenation project, the foundation has identified 17 rivers in the country, out of which 13 are in Maharashtra.

The project also include revival of 75 canals, 18 lakes and ponds and one dam in Nashik district in the state.

“We have plan to spent Rs 105 crore under the project in Maharashtra and out of which Rs 28 crore have already been spent,” he said.

Sri Sri apprised that four water rivers in Latur— Gharni, Tawarja, Rena, Jana—have been deepened, widened and cleaned.

“Rejuvenating Gharni river would ensure water percolation of 180 crore litres of water in the river basin.  It will hold 45 lakh litres in the river after rainfall. River Tawarja revival work over stretch of 4500 mtr has happened, benefiting 2,300 people. Work on Rena and Jana rivers has benefited 24,000 people,” he added.