## Policy Summary: Rejuvenation of Traditional Water Sources in RamtekLokSabha Constituency
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a query regarding the condition of traditional water sources in the RamtekLokSabha Constituency of Maharashtra. The query, posed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2672 on August 5, 2025, addressed the neglected state of ponds, small reservoirs, canals, and wells, and inquired about government efforts to revive them.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan, responded that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) addresses these concerns through a demand-driven, bottom-up planning approach. Gram Panchayats identify, approve, and prioritize works related to water body rejuvenation based on recommendations from the Gram Sabha, aligning with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Deepening, desilting, and structural improvements of water bodies are permissible activities under MGNREGS.
According to information provided by the Government of Maharashtra, such works have been undertaken in 65 villages within the RamtekLokSabha Constituency. These efforts have generated 360,481 person-days of employment, with a total expenditure of Rs. 7,61,85,837.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Shri Shyamkumar Daulat Barve: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
Ramtek Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra: Parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra, India, which is the focus of the question.
MGNREGS: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, a demand-driven wage employment scheme.
Shri Kamlesh Paswan: Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development who provided the answer.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act: The legal framework for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Government of Maharashtra: The state government providing information on work carried out in Ramtek Lok Sabha Constituency.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2672
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
CONDITION OF TRADITIONAL WATER SOURCES
2672. Shri ShyamkumarDaulatBarve:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that traditional water
sources like ponds, small reservoirs, canals and wells in many
villages of RamtekLokSabha Constituency of Maharashtra are
in neglected condition for years which have been heavily silted
and have become unusable for irrigation and water harvesting;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the
Government to revive them;
(c) whether any special programme or drive is being run by the
Government for rejuvenation, deepening, desilting and
structural improvement of these water bodies under
MGNREGS/other rural development schemes in
RamtekLokSabha Constituency;
(d) if so, the number of villages under RamtekLokSabha
Constituency where such works have been carried out during
the last five years; and
(e) the total number of man days generated and the total amount
spent by the Central and State Governments thereon?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a)&(b): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage
employment Scheme with bottom up planning approach. The works
are identified, approved and prioritized out of shelf of work prepared
by the Gram Panchayat and recommended in Gram Sabha of each
State/UT as per the provision of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Page 1 of 2Employment Guarantee Act. Accordingly, the works are approved
and taken up by Panchayat as per the demand.
(c)to(e): The works such as deepening, de-silting and structural
improvement of the water bodies are covered under the permissible
activities under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. As per information
furnished by Government of Maharashtra, in the 65 villages of
RamtekLokSabha Constituency, works such as deepening, de-silting
and structural improvement of the water bodies have been taken up.
Total persondays generated on these work is 3,60,481 and
expenditure incurred is Rs. 7,61,85,837.
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