61 natural springs rejuvenated in Uri: RDD

Srinagar, Mar 16: The government has rejuvenated 61 natural springs (bavelies) in the Uri constituency of north Kashmir as part of an extensive water conservation effort. This was revealed in a written response to an unstarred question tabled by Dr. Sajad Shafi, MLA Uri, in the legislative assembly.
As per the government, the Rural Development Department in Baramulla district has undertaken various steps to restore these vital water sources. The rejuvenation efforts focus on identifying water sources, assessing their flow, and conducting water quality testing. These measures are being carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to ensure sustainability and community participation, it said.
“The rejuvenation work was carried out across multiple blocks in the Uri constituency. Paranpillan witnessed the highest number of rejuvenations, with 27 springs revived over two years. In the Uri block, 12 springs were rejuvenated, while 13 were restored in Bijhama. The Noorkhah block saw the revival of 9 springs. However, no rejuvenation work was reported in Boniyar, highlighting a gap in the restoration efforts,” government said in its reply.
As part of the initiative, fencing has been installed around several springs to protect them from contamination and preserve water quality. Authorities have emphasized the importance of maintaining these natural water sources, given their significance in sustaining local communities and ecosystems.
The Minister In-charge of the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Javed Rana in written reply assured that these efforts will continue, with plans to extend the rejuvenation process to more areas in the coming years. Residents of Uri have welcomed the initiative, urging authorities to expedite work in regions that are yet to benefit from the program.