In order to conserve every single drop of water and raise the underground water table under Jal Shakti Abhiyaan soak pits are being dug to conserve water and prevent waste water from puddling on the roads.Giving information in this context Deputy Commissioner Mansa Mrs Apneet Riyait stated that 53 soak pits are being dug in the district, while work on 40 soak pits has already been completed.These soak pits have been constructed in areas where the waste water from midday meal kitchen, waste water of RO plants, water from washing clothes and drinking waste water gets accumulated. the district administration Mansa is constructing these soak pits with the help of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.She added that pipes are laid at all places where the waste water is generated. These pipes are then emptied into a pit called soak pit. the waste water is further purified using a bed of stones and then allowed to seep into the underground water table . She added that in the year 2017 village Kothe Aspal was honored with a national award by the Ministry of Rural Development Government of India for constructing soak pits, successfully running them and conserving water . due to these efforts the water table inside the premises of a government school at village Kothe Aspal has risen. School teachers say that one of the hand pumps that had run dry now has water running out of it due to increased water level .
She added that though small but this effort holds great significance in the times when punjab's underground water table has receded and many of its blocks have been over exploited.Additional Deputy Commissioner (development) Mr Gurmeet Singh Sidhu added that the construction of 53 soak pits has been taken up under the MNREGA project . Soak pits not only saves the waste water but also prevents water from puddling up on the roads and creating problems. Instead of the waste water getting accumulated on road it is purified and could be used for irrigating fields. He added that the village Kothe Aspal has 65 of which 32 are functional.MNREGA Mansa coordinator mr mandeep singh said that soak pits have been constructed only in those areas where underground water table has receded more 10 metres below. the soviet is made in the form of concrete tank which is 4 feet wide,has 4 feet length and a 10 feet deep. He added that the soviets have to be cleaned regularly . The cleaning is to be done by the owner of the premises where the soviets have been constructed.Giving information in this context Deputy Commissioner Mansa Mrs Apneet Riyait stated that 53 soak pits are being dug in the district, while work on 40 soak pits has already been completed.