On the occasion of World Water Day, the regional office of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) on Wednesday launched a campaign in the state, focusing on the eight water-starved districts.

"Existing polices have failed to yield the desired result because of a lag in proper implementation," development commissioner Amit Khare, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said.

"A policy serves its purpose satisfactorily when the needs of the end-users are addressed in consultation with the experts," he said.

Earlier, a state-level meeting attended by about 30 government and bank officials and representatives of NGOs, discussed how a vigorous awareness campaign could help to promote judicious use of water.

The annual rainfall in the state, which varies between 800mm and 1200mm, is not insufficient but 70 per cent of it runs off. The meeting stressed the need for conservation, harvesting and efficient use as viable means for ensuring water security.

Depending on their vulnerability, the eight districts were identified as Ranchi, Dumka, Godda, Gumla, Palamau, Garhwa, East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum.

Conservation of water, reduction in its wastage and reusing waste water for irrigation by building farm-level infrastructure were considered as effective measures.

The introduction of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting through gully plugs, farm ponds and check bunds, restoration of ponds and bunds were proposed as measures to reduce water wastage in agricultural sector, which consumes around 78 per cent of the total water utilised.

The adoption of rooftop rainwater harvesting was also advocated.

Officials said subsidised government schemes and bank loans at low rates were available for such infrastructure.

"Nabard will prepare a draft on micro-level structure," the rural bank's chief general manager Subrata Mandal said.

Nabard plans to deploy volunteers, or jal doots, to create awareness at village level before the monsoon sets in. Each of the 22-member team will campaign in 25 villages.

"The campaign will be monitored by a multi-level structure through gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad," said N.N. Sinha, principal secretary in the rural development department, said.

In another programme at Ranchi Univerisity, food minister Saryu Rai emphasised on sustainable development and said misuse of water should be discouraged.