The reason: Not even one per cent of the ponds meant for irrigation and groundwater recharge, which were to be built under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), have been constructed.

Official sources said a total of 1,400 ponds were to be dug up in 20 blocks of Allahabad. On April 1, the state government had sanctioned Rs 9 crore for the project. But worked went on at a slow pace. Later, another Rs 27 crore was given. But once heavy rains began in June, work almost stopped in the blocks.

Construction work has been completely stopped in Chaka, Jasra, Shankargarh, Kaundhiyara, Meja, Koraon, Pratappur and Urua blocks in the Trans-Yamuna area. A sub-divisional magistrate said that besides bad weather, irregularities in payment of wages had also affected work in these areas.

Similarly, work has been left incomplete in villages like Pure Faughsah, Karnaipur, Tilai, Gheenpur, Baghola, Katni and Baharia under Phoolpur tehsil in the Trans-Ganga area.