LUCKNOW: The parched district of Banda made it to the Limca Book of Records 2019 released recently for its unique water conservation campaign. According to an official statement, Banda created a record of building most contour trenches and conducting jal chaupals.

Known as the ‘bhujal bachao payjal bachao abhiyaan’, the campaign took place between February 26 and March 25, 2019. Under this, the administration pooled in resources from different departments to build 2,606 contour trenches, 2,183 handpumps and 260 wells in 470 gram panchyatas in one month.

The district also conducted 469 jal chaupals (village water parliaments) during which issues of water budgeting and groundwater recharge were discussed. The campaign also brought social organisations and academics on a common platform to spread awareness on the issue of water conservation.

Former district magistrate of Banda, Heera Lal, , who anchored the campaign, said: “The campaign was lauded for best use of available resources. Not a single penny was demanded from the state government for the cause. Instead, different departments got together to pool their resources and undertake the arduous task. It also speaks for the power of the people who enthusiastically participated for water conservation.”