DEPARTMENT OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PUNJAB, OFFICE OF DIVISIONAL SOIL CONSERVTION OFFICER, NAWANSHAHAR. SUCCESS STORY OF VILLAGE BALLOWAL SAUNKHRI UNDER IWDP(HARIYALI)BLOCK BALACHAUR DISTT. NAWANSHAHR.  The Soil and Water Conservation Project in the barren Kandi belt have led to recharging of the underground water.       The dark spot of Kandi region develops a silver lining                           Thousands of Hectares of dry barren lands, naked hills and poverty struck people. This was the story of entire kandi belt of Nawanshahr district, With water leval sinking to below the reach of common people. It was dark spot of Kandi belt of Nawanshahar district. Life in more than 80 villages in Kandi belt of Nawanshahr district under gone a sea change, thanks to water conservation projects initiated here with the help of Ministry of Rural Development , Department of Land Resources, Govt. Of India Central Govt. okayed 2 No. project under IWDP(Hariyali) forBlock Balachaur and Saroya in 80 Villages to develop 8200 Hect. of barren  with total cost 517.00 Lacs in five years. State Govt. will contribute only 10% of project cost .            Under IWDP(Hariyali) Works were initiated in village Ballowal Saunkhri of Balachaur Block in the year 2005-2006 . Life in this village under  gone a sea change thanks to the water conservation projects taken up in this village. 7 Nos. check Dams were constructed in catchments areas with total cost of Rs.13.25 Lacs to recharge Rain water which earlier gone waste and cause havoc in the form of Flash Floods laden with heavy silt load to fertile lands. The Perennial water supply in the drainage line which dried up in last 5 to 6 years due to deficient rains increases to considerable extents . The discharge of perennial flow project increases up to 1 cusec which earlier reduces to 0.6 cusec only. Due to the water seepage in hills increased vegetative covers CHECK DAM FULL OF RAIN WATER                   THE WATER DISTRIBUTION TANK OF PERENNIAL FLOW PROJECT                These  recharging check Dams infuse new life into perennial flow projects which is the life line of this village. This project irrigate about 100 Hect. Cultivated land.  Sh. Sita Ram , Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Ballowal Saunkhri said , “ Earlier people here were forced to migrate to earn their livings, now with the sufficient water they have taken to crops even paddy during the rainy season.” Farmer of village also diversified cropping pattern and go for cash crop like  Onion and earn about Rs. 50000/- per acre. Earlier the wheat yield for the rain fed areas are only 6 to 8 qtl. per acre. Now, with assured irrigation yield increases to 16 to 18 qtl. per acre. BUMPER WHEAT CROP ONION AS CASH CROP            Village community participated in project activities since its inception. Regular meeting of Gram Sabha/ Panchayat are conducted and works are planned as per needs and wishes of village community. The impact of social fencing in the forest areas reflected in three times increase in grass yield in shamlat land. Besides, the number of active land slides reduces from 10 to 2 only. Gram Panchayat of Village is a project implement agency at village level . They themselves carry out all the activities under IWDP( Hariyali) guidelines with active Cooperation and technical support from soil and water conservation department and other line departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Forest. The Gram Panchayat of Ballowal Saunkhri also generated 0.70 Lacs as watershed development fund to look after all the assets created during project period and other welfare activities of village later on.                                                                     Divisional Soil Conservation Officer,                                                                                 Nawanshahr.