Raipur, India: The Government of Chhattisgarh has set an ambitious target to construct one million water conservation structures by May 31, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to turning water conservation into a mass movement, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Friday.
The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting of the Jal Sanchay–Jan Bhagidari 2.0 campaign held at the Chief Minister’s Office in Nava Raipur. The meeting was jointly chaired by Chief Minister Sai and Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil, who joined the session virtually.
District Collectors from Bilaspur, Durg, and Surajpur presented detailed action plans outlining proposed water conservation activities under the second phase of the campaign.
Water Crisis Is a Developmental Challenge: CM
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Sai said that in the 21st century, water scarcity is not only an environmental issue but also a major economic, social, and developmental challenge. He emphasized that sustainable water management is impossible without public participation.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message, Sai urged citizens to treat water as “prasadam”—a sacred resource—to promote responsible and sensitive usage.
Strong Results in First Phase
The Chief Minister highlighted that Chhattisgarh secured second place nationally during the first phase of the campaign. Several districts also received awards in different categories. Key initiatives included large-scale construction of borewell recharge systems, rooftop rainwater harvesting units, recharge shafts, soak pits, and open-well recharge structures through community participation.
Currently, the state has five critical and 21 semi-critical groundwater blocks. Compared to 2024, groundwater extraction declined and water levels improved in five blocks in 2025, indicating positive outcomes from conservation efforts.
Focus on Farmers and Technology
Under Jal Sanchay–Jan Bhagidari 2.0, the state is adopting a technology-driven and results-oriented approach. As part of a special initiative marking the state’s Silver Jubilee year, over 400,000 farmers owning more than 10 acres of land are being encouraged to construct farm ponds (dabris). These structures will help recharge groundwater and provide additional income opportunities through irrigation and fish farming.
All water structures will be geo-tagged, and village-level water budgets and water security plans will be developed. Local youth will be trained as “Jal Mitras” (Water Friends) to accelerate the campaign.
Special emphasis will be placed on vulnerable areas, with targets set to complete 40% of conservation work in semi-critical blocks and 65% in critical blocks.
Union Minister Praises Chhattisgarh’s Efforts
Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil praised Chhattisgarh’s innovation and performance in water conservation, calling the state’s national ranking a matter of pride. He recalled that Prime Minister Modi launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan from Surat in September 2024, appealing for collective action under the theme “From Karmabhoomi to Matrabhumi”.
Patil urged district administrations to ensure full and effective utilization of MGNREGA funds for water conservation works and cited a woman sarpanch from Rajnandgaon as an inspiring example of grassroots leadership in water harvesting.
The meeting concluded with a call to citizens to make water conservation part of daily life and actively safeguard water resources for future generations.