The central government has approved on Tuesday the Atal Bhujal Yojana, a Rs 6000 crore scheme for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.
Atal Bhujal Yojana will cover 8, 350 villages of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, minister said.
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The scheme invites the participation of communities in various activities such as the formation of water user associations, monitoring and disseminating groundwater data, water budgeting, preparation and implementation of gram panchayat-wise water security plans and information, education and communication (IEC) activities related to sustainable groundwater management.
Prakash Javadekar also informed about the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff. CDS will also head the Department of Military Affairs. Minister also told that the CDS would be a four-star general, who would be either from the Army, the Air Force or the Navy.
Read: India to get its first Chief of Defence Staff, will act as Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister
Apart from these two decisions, the Minister also informed about updating the National Population Register (NPR).
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “No proof is to be given to anyone during the process. Whatever you say would be correct. Everyone who lives in India will be included”.
Read: Cabinet nod for updating NPR; no document required for proof, says Govt
Under the NPR, a census will be conducted from house to house across the country from April 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020, in all the states/union territories, except Assam.