Udaipur District Administration has decided to transform the ongoing Project Jal Dhar to Harit Dhar, after including three other independent projects. It will now initiate maintenance work of 125 water bodies, provide vegetable seeds to around 5000 farmers and work over greenery on 9 hills around city.

According to Ashutosh Pednekar, District Collector, Udaipur, “Maintenance work of lakes, distributing seeds to farmers and greenery over hills were proposed as individual project i.e. Harit Dhart to make it more affective.”

Pednekar said that maintenance work of lakes is divided into two phases broadly. First phase will start from 21^st May and will conclude on 15^th June, in which repairing work of Paal, Swiss Gate, Overflow Channel and Core Wall of lakes will be considered, emphasis would be on completing phase before rainy season.”

“In second phase starting from 16^th June to 15^th October, connecting channels of these lakes will be repaired. Total length of these channels is more than 200 km. In both these phases Rs.25 Crore would be spent,” explained Pednekar.

Informing more about the project, Ashutosh Pednekar said, “Around 5000 framers across district will be provided with seeds of various vegetables. The process will continue for 3 consecutive years, where all the seeds will be given free of cost. Seeds worth Rs. 49 lac will be given this year with help of national seed corporation.”

A team of engineers on the other side will help farmers in culturing land, digging well and fencing around farm, cost of which is independent from that of seeds. More than 1000 hectares of land will be covered in the project.

9 hills around the city are selected for developing greenery, in which evergreen and flowing plants will be planted. Before that, fencing of these hills will done to keep gazing animals away from it, while view point would be developed on the hills for tourists.

Budget of Rs. 15.5 Crore is kept reserved. It will be further distributed over 3 heads viz. North, South Division of forest department and UIT. Among this, Rs. 10 Crore will be spent by North Division as most of the hills are under this division, while Rs. 4.5 Crore would be spent by South Division and finally Rs. 1 Crore will be spent by UIT on remaining hills.

Pednekar said, “In this whole project nearly 1.5 lac laborers will be employed, who will receive daily wages through NREGA scheme of central government.”