MUMBAI: "Mission 500 Crore Litre Water Storage”, a farmers' movement that works on a basic principle -- "of the people, by the people, for the people" -- in Maharashtra received an honour of being part of the United Nations Water Conference 2023 at New York. Movement that has simple creative idea "Put the diesel and use the machine" at the centre for constructing small check dams and water bodies, was started in Dhamangaon village of Chalisgaon Tehsil by Dr Ujjwalkumar Chavhan (IRS) in 2017, his hometown.
Through people's participation and planning in the Gram Sabhas, river deepening and widening works are done to construct dams and ponds in village areas as part of the mission. "So far 450 crore liters of water reservoirs and trenches have been created in 80 villages of 9 districts, and 30 km of farm roads have been repaired besides plantation of 45000 trees. The movement has earlier been honoured on many platforms including Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Governor of Maharashtra," Chavan, who is also the additional commissioner, income tax, told TOI.
