DW BUREAU / chandigarh With a view to utilising surplus Monsoon runoff to recharge groundwater levels, the Haryana Government has started work to construct 300 recharge shafts in three water-stressed and flood-prone blocks on pilot basis under the 'Mera Pani ?Meri Virasat' scheme. Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department, Sanjeev Kaushal on Monday said that construction of 100 recharge shafts in block Guhla was started on July 19, after allotment of work on July 14. He said that tenders had been invited for undertaking construction of 100 shafts each in blocks Ratia and Shahabad, and agreements would be finalised today. The Irrigation and Water Resources Department, which is implementing the project, would soon float tenders for construction of 700 recharge shafts in all eight blocks covered under the scheme. He said that the farmer would pay ten per cent of the total cost or a maximum of Rs. 10,000 as contribution for construction of recharge structure at his field at the time of submission of application, or he may give his consent to maintain the structure, in which case, the total cost of the structure would be borne by the government. Farmers in the selected eight blocks may construct recharge shafts on their flood-prone land at their own expense. However, this construction has to be undertaken in accordance with guidelines and stipulations laid out by the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. The design of structure approved by the CCS Haryana Agricultural University and Central Ground Water Board, Chandigarh would be followed. Such farmers may apply on the 'Mera Pani ? Meri Virasat' portal. The Committee already constituted would provide the design and technical know-how to the farmers for construction of recharge shaft structure, and would also ensure that the structure has been constructed as per approved design and feasibility of site. The Irrigation and Water Resources Department would provide the locations of recharge structures for sampling and testing of flooded and recharge water to the CCSHAU, which would conduct study on quality of the water. Kaushal said that the Haryana Government had decided to construct 1,000 recharge shafts in eight water-stressed blocks, namely Ratia (district Fatehabad), Siwan and Guhla (district Kaithal), Pipli, Shahabad, Babain and Ismailabad (district Kurukshetra) and Sirsa (district Sirsa), where the groundwater level is below 40 metres, and had invited farmers in these blocks to apply for the same on the 'Mera Pani ? Meri Virasat' portal. The project would cost around Rs 32.33 crore. As many as 1,177 farmers have so far applied under the scheme, which is aimed at protecting the depleting groundwater table through crop diversification. As many as 182 farmers in Ratia, 76 in Siwan, and 231 in Guhla have so far applied for construction of recharge shafts. Similarly, 55 farmers have applied in Pipli, 426 in Shahabad, 47 in Babain, 108 in Ismailabad, and 52 in Sirsa. (editor@dailyworld.in)