Renovation of 500 bawlis and wells in Hamirpur district will be completed by month-end Hamirpur: The district administration has taken an initiative to renovate all traditional waters sources in the district and handover the maintenance job to local panchayats with the help of other government agencies. The basic objective of this programme is to protect and preserve the traditional sources of water like bawli, wells and khatri. Though these traditional sources of water prove very useful in fulfilling water needs of people especially during summer months, water contamination in some of these bodies led to spread of water-borne diseases. Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and viral fever are quite common among people using water from these sources. This project which is in the final stages of completion was started in July 2009 when the DC, Hamirpur, had directed all BDOs to take up this campaign with panchayats. The panchayats were asked to identify at least five traditional water sources in their area and combine this work with the construction of water supply scheme, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene programme undertaken under NREGA. The steps undertaken include preparing barriers to stop the access of animals near the water source and covering the opening of bawli and wells. The project also includes cleaning of water sources periodically for which local panchayat would also maintain a proper record. Irrigation and Public Health officials have been entrusted the job of providing structural design for the renovation work. At present renovation and preservation of 500 traditional water sources is being undertaken and work would be completed by the end of this month. Hamirpur DC Abhishek Jain said,