Nagpur: In a welcome news for farmers of the state, non-government organizations (NGOs) and corporates are coming to their aid by taking up water conservation projects. The government agencies are providing them the necessary help. Nagpur-based information technology (IT) firm Persistent Systems and NGO Art of Living have taken up a project to deepen and widen a 36.5km long stream under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' project Jalyukta Shivar. The bhoomipujan of the project was held on Sunday. Enthused by the response to the project from government machinery, Rotary Club and Credai have also lend a helping hand. The stream starts in a forest near Ambazari village in Hingna taluka and ends in Durga River 35km downstream. It passes through five villages on way — Ambazari, Mohgaon, Zilpi, Bhivkund and Pawadghond. Persistent chairman Dattatray Pande said that his company had taken up the work under corporate social responsibility (CSR). "We came to know that Art of Living had done a great job in making Degma village water scarcity-free through Jalyukta Shivar. When they approached us we were more than ready to help them. We have provided Rs36 lakh for the project," he told the farmers in the bhoomipujan function. Manish Badhiye and Murali Demle of Art of Living said that Degma village was chosen because it was facing the most acute shortage of water in the district. "We zeroed on the village through satellite imaging and hydrogeological tests. The village was facing water scarcity as the stream passing through it had got completed silted and was unable to store water. In summer, people used to migrate as there was no water for drinking. Last summer they even had water for agriculture," Badhiye. CM Fadnavis said that it was heartening to see NGOs and corporates doing their duty to the society. "Corporates have realized that unless the farmers are prosperous the country will not progress," he said.

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