Efforts for water conservation due to the activism of gram panchayats and self-motivated public participation are commendable: Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai

Chief Minister released a booklet based on ‘More Village More Water’ campaign

Raipur, July 16, 2025 l Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai today released a booklet based on the ‘More Village More Water’ Maha Abhiyan in his chamber located in the Assembly premises. On this occasion, he said that this special campaign started on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day has generated unprecedented awareness in the field of water conservation and promotion. Many officials including Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Principal Secretary Panchayat Niharika Barik, Commissioner MNREGA and Director Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Taran Prakash Sinha were present in the release program.

Chief Minister Sai said that due to the activism of gram panchayats and self-motivated participation of the public, this campaign has now taken the form of a mass movement. People are voluntarily joining noble works like water conservation, which is a clear sign of positive social change. He said that the booklet compiles notable works and innovations done by various panchayats of the state in the field of water conservation, which will become a source of inspiration for other panchayats.

Chief Minister Sai said that under the campaign, special attention has been given to increasing public awareness towards water conservation through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities. Groundwater level has been marked on the walls of more than 11,000 Gram Panchayat buildings of the state, which has awakened practical consciousness among the people about the importance of water. He said that the role of Gram Panchayats has been important in linking water conservation with public participation, and this consciousness will take an even wider form in the coming times.

It is noteworthy that under the ‘More Village More Water’ campaign, the general public has been sensitized and made aware about water conservation on a wide scale through means like rally, wall writing. More than 56,000 participants have been prepared for water management and conservation through trainings organized in 626 clusters.

In the campaign, effective planning of water conservation works is being done using GIS technology, while the water level of open wells is being measured through the Jaldoot app. Additionally, sustainable efforts are being made for water recharge and conservation through structural measures such as percolation tanks, Ardan dams, defunct borewell recharge structures. These efforts of gram panchayats will establish Chhattisgarh as a national model of water conservation.