Nature Conservation Society Amravati sets an example by constructing a lake at community centre in Melghat

Amravati (June 26, 2012)

With no financial support from any Government department, Nature Conservation Society, Amravati has constructed a lake at its community resource centre (CRC) in Melghat Tiger Reserve. NCSA has set an example for others by doing water conservation work. The lake was inaugurated yesterday by wildlife conservationist and Satpuda Foundation President Kishor Rithe.

The lake will be called "Nishisagar" and will store approximately 13 lakh litres of water, doing a great amount of water conservation work every year.

The Community Resource Centre is locally known as "Muthawa centre". (Muthawa is a god of the Korku tribe). NCSA had set up this centre in 2006 to promote sustainable village development activities in Melghat villages. NCSA is trying to showcase conservation models and rural development technology so that tribal villages can adopt such conservation initiatives.

"The lake will also help to conserve more water as we had already constructed another percolation tank at the downstream end of this lake", said Nishikant Kale, former President of NCSA and architect of this lake. "It has cost us around Rs. 2 lakh and a lot of work has been done through shramdaan (voluntary work) by our members during this summer."

NCSA has developed three nurseries including one exclusively for medicinal plants. Artificial water holes have been created for wild animals along with the grasslands around the water bodies. "It has actually attracted chital, sambar and some carnivores at the community centre", said Neharu Yewale, CRC in-charge.

NCSA has planted many indigenous agro-forestry plants, an orange and mango orchard and other forest fruit species like Chironji and custard apple. The plantation has come up very well and started producing fruit.

NCSA generates solar power and bio-fuel to run the CRC. The Muthawa centre has also installed some innovative items like a sewage treatment plant, gravitational water distribution system, bio-fuel plant, solar cooker and solar water-heater like appliances, water conservation structures and spot-feeding fence for livestock.

 In fact we had also approached the Government but the concerned department did not show any interest even after written orders from Collector and Divisional Commissioner, said Dr. Anil Asole, President of NCSA.