Since ancient times, wherever populations have been inhabited, ponds have traditionally been constructed as a means of water supply. The importance of ponds remains as a means of drainage and irrigation. In modern times, the importance of ponds has not diminished despite the presence of boring and tube wells in the advanced form of water resources. They are very useful in terms of rainwater harvesting and recharging of geological waters.
Many Gram Panchayats are working with caution for the conservation and promotion of traditional water sources. The MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) is helping the villages in this. The ancient pond of the village in Kanjia of Bharatpur, remote development block of Korea district, has been deepened under MNREGA. Due to this the pond got revival, while many villagers also got direct employment. Since deepening of the pond, fish farming has also started in it. With this the Gram Panchayat has got a permanent income as well as employment for a tribal family of the village. The family is earning about two lakh rupees annually by fishing.
Kanjia is a scheduled tribe dominated village 168 km from the district headquarters Baikunthpur. There is a very old pond which is known as ‘Bada Talab’. Situated along the main road between Beechpara and Dongaripara, the two mohallas of the village, this pond is the main means of settling the villagers. It is also the main source of drinking water for their animals. The villagers say that due to the long deepening of the pond, the water started coming down. In summer it reached the verge of drying up. The year when there was less rainfall, the pond dried completely.
