LUCKNOW: Simple initiatives related to cleaning and protecting the water bodies such as well, pond, lake and river led to the success of water conservation programme in Banda district, which was earlier famous for water crisis , said Heera Lal, former district magistrate, Banda and current additional mission director, UP national health mission.

He was speaking at Gomti Book Festival on Wednesday. "A month after I took charge of the district, I got a message that an arterial road has been blocked by the locals. Thameem Ansariya, the then SDM Sadar, who went to the spot to remove the blockade told me that a tap water source had got defunct, affecting the water supply leading to uproar.

That incident made me realise the gravity of the water issue in the district." Such was the water crisis in Banda that women used to offer bangles to DM to tease authorities over their failure to solve the issue.

"I started a simple but effective campaign to clean and protect water bodies in Banda. We also introduced the rain water harvesting concept. The initial results were motivating and soon everyone in Banda started replicating the same, which ultimately solved the water crisis," he said.

The efforts helped the ground water level in the district rise up to 1.34 meters, which further increased crop productivity of the district by 18.5%, claimed the officer, whose initiatives were lauded by PM Narendra Modi . "That (praise from PM) was for ensuring highest voter turnout in polls across the country. Banda voting percentage increased by more than 10%. It was achieved through motivation," he said.

Publication Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/former-dm-heera-lal-who-solved-parched-bandas-water-crisis-shares-tips/articleshow/95264756.cms