Chhattisgarh leads water conserving drive; CM Sai presents state’s model

Raipur: Chhattisgarh has ranked first in the country in the third phase of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ (JSJB) campaign, emerging as a national model for community-driven rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. Five districts of the state—Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Balodabazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdham—have also secured places among the country’s top 10 districts for water conservation.

In the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Vishnu Deo Sai presented Chhattisgarh’s innovations and community-based water conservation model at the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s departmental summit held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. During the ‘Catch the Rain’ session, Deputy CM Arun Sao gave a detailed presentation on the state’s initiatives in rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and protection of drinking water sources.

CM Sai said Chhattisgarh has transformed water conservation from a government programme into a people’s movement by placing farmers, Gram Panchayats, Jal Sakhis, Jal Mitras and local communities at its centre.

The state ranked second in both JSJB 1.0 and 2.0, creating 4,05,561 and 24,07,456 water structures respectively. In JSJB 3.0, Chhattisgarh moved to the top position nationally, with 79,775 structures registered and 77,719 completed.

A key innovation highlighted by CM Sai is the ‘5 Per Cent Model’ from Koriya district. Under it, farmers voluntarily provide about five per cent of their agricultural land for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. Panchayats, communities and government departments jointly develop the structures, supported by geo-tagging, monitoring and regular reviews.

Five districts—Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Balodabazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdham—have also figured among the country’s top 10 districts for water conservation. The state’s efforts have helped reduce the number of water-stressed blocks from 26 to 19. Along with creating new structures, Chhattisgarh is restoring traditional water sources, promoting groundwater recharge and using technology for mapping and monitoring.

Adopting PM Modi’s ‘Catch the Rain—Jahan Jal Gire, Wahin Sahejein’ message, the state is developing water-harvesting structures according to local geography and rainfall patterns. CM proposed state-specific ‘Catch the Rain Plans’, State Water Awards, stronger BISAG-N mapping and quarterly reviews. He said community participation, technology and regular monitoring can turn water conservation into a people’s movement while strengthening agriculture, rural livelihoods and water security.