NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh has emerged as the top-performing state in Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and Catch the Rain campaigns’ for community-led 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.Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented the state’s water conservation model at the ministry’s departmental summit here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
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Launched in Sept 2024, the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ (JSJB) initiative has placed community partnership and ownership at the heart of water conservation. It focuses on constructing low-cost groundwater recharge and water storage structures and reviving defunct borewells.As of Sept 3, more than 1.58 crore artificial groundwater recharge structures have been constructed in the country. During the third edition of the campaign, Chhattisgarh moved to the first position nationally, with 79,775 water structures registered and 77,719 completed.“The government’s approach is not merely about creating structures for water conservation. It is also about fostering a culture of responsibility around water. JSJB places people’s participation at the centre of water management. It brings together communities, Panchayats, institutions and other stakeholders on locally appropriate solutions,” said the ministry in a statement.
