Chandigarh, Jun 28 (IANS): Haryana has completed the construction of 1,627 Amrit Sarovars, comprising 558 model and 1069 MNREGA ponds. The construction of remaining 23 ponds will be completed by June 30, Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority Executive Vice-Chairperson Prabhaker Kumar Verma said on Wednesday.

“Out of the total 19,487 ponds available in the Pond Data Management System (PDMS), the authority is working on reviving 11,836 polluted ponds on priority. In our annual for 2024-25, we have set a target of renovating 6,680 ponds,” he said in a statement.

Under the Amrit Sarovar Mission, 75 Amrit Sarovars are to be built in every district and the work on them will be completed by June 30.

Verma said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while giving a new direction to the work of Amrit Sarovar, had taken a unique decision to divide the work of Amrit Sarovar into three phases.

According to the four parameters of the Amrit Sarovar Mission, all work on 1,650 ponds is to be completed by June 30 under the Amrit Phase.

In 2022-23, the water capacity of state ponds increased by 1,594 crore litres and recharging by 956 crore litres.

Highlighting achievements, Verma said due to Adarsh Ponds the lives of villagers have become easier, apart from improvement in environment due to increased plantation around Adarsh Ponds.

He said an increase in fisheries, micro-irrigation and tourism activities will also give a major boost to the state's economic graph.