Thane Zilla Parishad has launched Shivjal Surajya Abhiyan to address the ongoing water shortage in Thane's rural areas. The campaign was inaugurated by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rohan Ghuge in Athgaon, Shahapur taluka, where he also launched a rainwater harvesting initiative at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Aathvan Kendra Sakhroli.

CEO Rohan Ghuge emphasized the importance of collective efforts for water conservation, directing authorities to inspect various water conservation methods, including CCT (Continuous Contour Trenches), Deep CCT, rainwater harvesting, forestry dams, and private wells under the Gram Panchayats. He urged that these works be carried out with active public participation to raise the groundwater levels and ensure the availability of drinking water year-round.

The initiative has already seen significant progress, with villagers taking the lead in constructing 85 forest bunds in tanker-affected areas of Murbad and Shahapur talukas, and a total of 1,515 bunds across the region. In Shahapur alone, 110 forest bunds, seven water bunds, and 13 paddy bunds have been constructed, with additional work in neighbouring talukas, including Kalyan, Bhiwandi, and Murbad.

A notable project under this campaign is the creation of forestation-based dams, aimed at preventing water wastage in streams and increasing groundwater levels. These dams are being built using sand-filled cement or loose bags along streams that pass through agricultural fields, providing farmers with much-needed water storage during the off-season.

CEO Ghuge called for widespread participation from public officials, social organizations, NGOs, and villagers to complete these crucial water conservation projects by the end of January.

The campaign aims to construct 50 forest dams in Shahapur taluka and 35 in Murbad taluka, with a target of storing 50 million and 35 million liters of water, respectively. The work on 1,515 dams across various talukas is part of a broader strategy to combat water scarcity and increase water availability in rural areas.

Other conservation measures under the "Shivjal Surajya Abhiyan" include the repair of KT ware/storage dams, percolation ponds, drinking water well silting, and rooftop rainwater harvesting, all designed to strengthen the region's water supply system.

“Through these efforts, the Zilla Parishad aims to tackle the water crisis and provide sustainable solutions to the rural areas of Thane district”, said CEO Rohan Ghuge.