Press Information Bureau

­­­­Water conservation has become a national priority in India as the country faces increasing challenges related to water scarcity and management. The launch of the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 6, 2024, in Surat, Gujarat, marks a significant step towards addressing these challenges. Alongside this initiative, the Indian government has implemented numerous programs, including the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and Atal Bhujal Yojana, all aimed at conserving water and promoting rainwater harvesting. These collective efforts highlight the government's commitment to ensuring a water-secure future for India through effective partnerships, sustainable practices, and widespread awareness.

Under ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ program, approximately 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures are being constructed across the state to enhance rainwater harvesting and ensure long-term water sustainability. To further the Prime Minister’s vision of water security, the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative seeks to conserve water with a strong emphasis on community partnership and ownership. It is driven by a whole-of-society and a whole-of-government approach. Building on the success of the Jal Sanchay initiative led by the Government of Gujarat, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the State Government, launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative in Gujarat. These recharge structures will be instrumental in enhancing rainwater harvesting and ensuring long-term water sustainability.

Other major steps taken by the Government for water conservation and rainwater harvesting to reduce water stress in the country are as follows:

• Government of India has been implementing a scheme namely Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) which inter-alia includes water conservation and water harvesting structures.
• Financial assistance is given to various States under 15th Finance Commission tied grants which can be inter-alia utilized for rainwater harvesting.
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  The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019 on an annual basis. In the current year, Ministry of Jal Shakti is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) 2024, 5th in the series of JSAs, in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country. JSA: CTR is a convergence of various Central Government schemes and funds like MGNREGS, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Per Drop More Crop, Repair, Renovation and Restoration Components under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Finance Commission grants, State Government schemes, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds etc. One of the major interventions undertaken under the campaign includes constructions and repair or rainwater harvesting structures including rooftop and water harvesting structures.

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• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 has provisions for harvesting the rainwater through storm water drains into water body (which is not receiving sewage/effluent). Through preparation of ‘Aquifer Management Plan’ cities targets to strategize groundwater recharge augmentation by developing a roadmap for improving rain water harvesting within city limits. Through IEC campaign, awareness is created about practices for water conservation like rainwater harvesting.
• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has formulated guidelines for the States to adopt measures suitable to local conditions, such as Unified Building Bye Laws (UBBL) of Delhi, 2016, Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 and Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014 with adequate focus on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.
• Government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana, in 8,213 water stressed Gram Panchayats (GPs) in 80 districts of 7 States, viz., Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme marks a paradigm shift from groundwater development to groundwater management.
• Government of India has been implementing “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)” with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc. PMKSY has three components/ schemes namely Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) Scheme of Water Bodies and Surface Minor irrigation (SMI) Scheme.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti has set up the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission on 20.10.2022, to act as a facilitator for promotion of improving water use efficiency across various sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries, etc. in the country.
• Mission Amrit Sarovar was implemented in the recent times with provisions for creation/rejuvenation of at least 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district of the country with the purpose to harvest and conserve water.
• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has completed the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project in the entire mappable area of about 25 lakh sq. km. which has been shared with the respective State agencies for implementation. The management plans include various water conservation measures through recharge structures.
• CGWB has also prepared a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. The Master Plan has provisions for construction of about 1.42 crore Rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of monsoon rainfall.
• CGWB, under Ground Water Management and Regulation Scheme, has also implemented several successful artificial recharge projects in the country for demonstrative purpose which enable the State Governments to replicate the same in suitable hydro-geological conditions.
• National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, which inter-alia advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and also highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.
• Department of Land Resources (DoLR) implements Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) for the development of rainfed and degraded lands in the country. The activities undertaken, inter-alia, include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, livelihoods for asset-less persons etc. WDC-PMKSY, through these interventions, seeks to ensure sustainable development through improved natural resource management and better resilience of farmers to climate change.[1]

Conclusion

The ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative is a powerful example of how community involvement, backed by robust government policies, can lead to significant strides in water conservation. With the construction of thousands of rainwater harvesting structures and the integration of various central schemes like AMRUT 2.0, PMKSY, and Mission Amrit Sarovar, India is building a framework for long-term water security. These efforts, coupled with active citizen engagement and the government's emphasis on local solutions, represent a comprehensive approach to addressing water scarcity. By continuing to prioritize sustainable water management and promoting efficient water use, India can ensure a resilient and water-secure future for generations to come.

References

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2052494#:~:text=To%20further%20the%20Prime%20Minister's,whole%2Dof%2Dgovernment%20approach

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2035230

https://x.com/JalShaktiAbhyan/status/1242694717747294213/photo/1  

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Aswathy Nair

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