Residents of Kutchery Chowk during the cleanliness drive on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, March 11: Over 350 men and women under the aegis of Pani Panchayat today joined hands to give a fresh lease of life to a rivulet near Kutchery Chowk, about 60km from the state capital under Sadar police station area of Lohardaga district.

Led by former MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat, they laboured all day to dredge 150ft deposit of silt from the riverbed and remove garbage from the banks so that its water can be used during summer. Machines were also pressed into service. Work started at 11am and continued till 3pm.

Bhagat said it was the first time that people came forward to clean a water body. “Our aim is not to launch any campaign against the government, but to spread awareness among people who waste water. I have decided to organise similar programme in all 353 villages of the district, which is divided into five blocks and 55 panchayats. We are trying to ensure that around 3.84 lakh people residing in the area get associated with the drive,” he added.

The former legislator further said such programmes were the need of the hour as all 77 ponds and 900 wells get dry during summer due to mismanagement.

“After the residents realise the gravity of the situation, they will not allow wastage of 1100mm of water that the district receives every year,” he said.

He added that after the people were made aware, he would take up the matter with government officials so that cleaning of ponds, lakes, wells and rivulets could be included under the rural job guarantee scheme.