District Collector Sumit Kumar on Thursday directed officials to prepare comprehensive plans for all 3,106 identified tanks in the district and prioritise “Jaladhara” water conservation works in tanks with larger ayacut areas to improve groundwater levels.

The Collector was reviewing “Jaladhara-Neeti Bhadrata” initiatives in Palamaner constituency at the Collectorate here. He instructed officials to inspect all minor irrigation tanks and verify restoration of feeder canals.

Mr. Sumit Kumar expressed concern that groundwater levels had fallen by nearly six metres during the past six months and warned that below-normal rainfall was likely in the coming months. He asked officials to accelerate Jaladhara programmes to improve water conservation and recharge groundwater reserves.

Feeder canal restoration works should be taken up through MGNREGS workers, while machinery funded under TR-27 special funds should be used in inaccessible areas, he said.

The Collector also reviewed the Jaladhara works in Peddapanjani, Palamaner, V Kota, Baireddipalle, and Gangavaram mandals during the meeting.