Alluri Sitharama Raju district tribals excel in Andhra Pradesh’s natural water conservation efforts under MGNREGS

Alluri Sitharama Raju district leads in water conservation with 16,107 structures built by 30,000 tribals under MGNREGS.

The Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district stands out among the State’s districts in its efforts to conserve natural water resources, such as streams and rain.

Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), as many as 30,000 tribals in 22 mandals of the district have created 16,107 water harvesting structures, including 13,609 soak pits, 2,452 farm ponds and 47 rooftop rainwater harvesting tanks.

This is their biggest achievement under the Centre-sponsored scheme, and they have even topped the State’s MGNREGS rankings declared based on the performance for the financial year 2024-25 ending on March 31.

“The district administration and the MGNREGS beneficiaries, who are all tribals, have been at the forefront of such water conservation measures in the State with infrastructure development. These water conservation structures will also help neighbouring districts like Anakapalli. People of the ASR district tapped nature’s gift (rainwater) by undertaking works under the scheme. ASR’s rainfall is good, but water is not stored here as it flows to downstream areas. For the first time in this financial year, we have taken up water conservation activities and stood as toppers in the State,” ASR Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar told The Hindu on Wednesday.

According to MGNREGS project director D.V. Vidya Sagar, an investment of around ₹6,000 per unit was made for each soak pit, which includes ₹549 in unskilled manpower wages. He added that 230 mm-size boulders were used for each soak pit.

“Overall, 16,107 water conservation structures have been built, including 13,609 soak pits, in the financial year 2024-25. The highest number of soak pits (1,296) were constructed in Anantagiri and the lowest in Maredumilli mandal (231). Other districts like Srikakulam and Anantapur have also undertaken water harvesting works under MGNREGS schemes, but the uniqueness of ASR district is that all the workers (beneficiaries of this scheme) are tribals,” Mr. Vidya Sagar concluded.