Central as well State Governments implement various measures of water conservation in rural and tribal areas of the country viz. watershed development activities like creation and renovation of traditional water bodies, check dams, farm ponds, desilting of tanks, gully plugs, trenches etc. and improving water use efficiency in agriculture by crop diversification & using efficient irrigation methods. 
Though no common portal exists, the information regarding various methods of water conservation is disseminated through electronic & print media as well as by Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities of the Government. Recently, National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti has implemented “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain” (JSA: CTR) campaign with the theme "Catch the rain, 
where it falls, when it falls”, mainly to conserve rain water with active participation of people in all districts (rural as well as urban areas) in the country, during the pre-monsoon and monsoon period, i.e. from 22nd March 2021 to 30th November 2021. One of the focused interventions of the campaign included setting up of ‘Jal Shakti Kendras’ in every district of the country. All the State Governments have been requested to set up ‘Jal Shakti Kendras’ in every district headquarters as a part of the campaign. ‘Jal Shakti Kendras’ (JSK) are to act as “knowledge centers” for disseminating information related to water conservation techniques and provides technical guidance to people. As per information available on ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain’ portal (jsactr.mowr.gov.in), 291Jal Shakti Kendras have been set up in various States/UTs so far (as on 17.12.2021).

  Traditional methods of water conservation and rain water harvesting in the country varies from area to area depending upon the topography, climatic conditions, soil structure, etc. Government of India encourages the best practices on traditional methods of conservation of water and disseminates it with a view to bringing awareness and replication in other areas. As per information available on ‘Jal Shakti 
Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ portal (jsactr.mowr.gov.in), about 2.83 lakh traditional water bodies are renovated in various States/UTs so far (as on 17.12.2021).

  Water being a State subject, water conservation projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments as per their own resources and priorities. Government of India augments the efforts of the State Governments by providing technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),

  Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal); Watershed Development Management; Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY); Finance Commission Grants, 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain'; National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM); Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies, etc. 
  The schemes/projects implemented by various Central Government Ministries/Departments are applicable for North-Eastern region as well, which facilitates protection and conservation of water. Specifically, North-Eastern Council Secretariat has supported a number of projects for conservation of water, such as, rain water harvesting, construction of water catchment areas across the North-Eastern States.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written  reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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BY/AS

(Release ID: 1783517)