5 days ago
Kheri finds place in record book for construction of 1k ponds in a month
Lucknow: The Lakhimpur Kheri district made a place for itself in the India Book of Records for constructing the highest number of community ponds in a month. The construction of ponds, undertaken as part of the Har Gaon Talab campaign, saw 1,030 community ponds constructed between May 15 and June 15, 2025.
The feat was recognised by the India Book of Records adjudicator, Pramil Dwivedi, at a ceremony on Wednesday, where he presented a certificate and medal to district magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal and chief development officer Abhishek Kumar.
Describing the district as a "shining star of water empowerment," Dwivedi said that over 700 acres of land was made suitable for water conservation, and 70 to 80 ponds were constructed in each block.
"The campaign is a perfect example of collective effort, administrative commitment, and public participation. Through this record, Lakhimpur Kheri demonstrated that with strong willpower and dedicated efforts, new heights of rural development can be achieved. The 'Har Gaon Talab' campaign has now become a public movement for water security, rather than remaining merely a govt programme," he said.
Nagpal said that the administration set a goal to dig more than 1,000 ponds within a month and ensure their completion before the first monsoon rains.
The campaign was led by the CDO and executed by a team.
"The 'Har Gaon Talab' campaign was not just a water conservation drive but significantly contributed to strengthening the rural economy. It generated nearly 7 lakh man-days of employment, providing livelihoods to farmers and labourers. Over 30% of participants were women, making the campaign a model of both development and women's empowerment. Through this initiative, the campaign demonstrated how environmental projects can also foster social inclusion and economic resilience," Nagpal said.
