Jalandhar: Wastewater irrigation, Duhre village showing the way

Jalandhar: Duhre village has witnessed a remarkable economic transformation as now farmers receive wastewater for irrigation through a newly installed pipeline by the Soil and Conservation Department at a cost of Rs 12.48 lakh. Appreciating the efforts made by the department and the participation of people, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal said since the project implementation cost Rs 12.48 lakh, under this initiative, 18 farmers are being provided water for irrigation through a 1,150-metre long underground pipeline covering 60 acres of land. The treated water is supplied from a pond through solar energy. Appreciating the initiative, Dr Aggarwal called it a benchmark in rural transformation and promised to start more such projects in the district to save the environment and groundwater. Kulwant Singh, a resident of Duhre village, described the previous condition of the pond as appalling, with no outlet for the water. He thanked the Soil and Water Conservation Department for the timely implementation of the project, which has benefited the village immensely by using wastewater for irrigation.

Farmer Manjit Singh thanked the government for the scheme and highlighted the reduction in production cost. The provision of pond water through the solar-powered motor has eliminated their dependence on submersible pumps for groundwater. Farmer Mandeep Singh also reiterated the sentiment and pointed out the impact the project has had on their farming practices. He emphasised on reduction in power consumption and conservation of precious groundwater. The solar-powered motor, which runs for 7-8 hours daily, provides abundant water to their fields. Lupinder Kumar, sub-divisional soil conservation officer, Jalandhar, said the department said the water was found fit during the tests conducted from time to time by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, on various parameters required for irrigation. The tests covered various aspects including pH, E-coli, F-coli and other heavy metals. He added, “The transformation of the pond has had a profound impact on Duhre village, enhancing both environmental and social well-being. Through careful planning and execution, the project addressed key issues such as water quality, biodiversity and accessibility.”