Save every drop of water, our tomorrow will be safe only because of water: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav
Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that life is dependent on water. We all need to save every drop of water. Our future is safe only because of water. Extensive activities should be carried out to encourage water conservation in the Jal Ganga Jal Sanvardhan Abhiyan. The campaign will play an important role in increasing awareness about water conservation among the general public. The government will effectively carry forward water conservation activities with the participation of various departments, social organizations and the general public. Special emphasis should be laid on rainwater harvesting, revival of water sources and adoption of water conservation techniques in the campaign. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav gave these instructions in the meeting of ‘Jal Ganga Jal Sanvardhan Abhiyan’ held at Samatva Bhavan (Chief Minister’s residence). Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan will start from Gudi Padwa 30 March and will continue for three months till 30 June 2025.
Chief Secretary Mr. Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources Dr. Rajesh Rajoura, Additional Chief Secretary Forest Mr. Ashok Barnwal, Additional Chief Secretary Horticulture Mr. Anupam Rajan, Principal Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Mrs. Deepali Rastogi, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Manish Rastogi, Principal Secretaries of other departments related to the campaign, Secretary and Commissioner Public Relations Dr. Sudam Khade and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
In the meeting, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav discussed the strategy of the campaign in detail with senior officials of the concerned departments. The Chief Minister directed all the departments to give priority to schemes related to water conservation and connect as many people as possible to the campaign. He said that Jal Ganga Jal Sanvardhan Abhiyan will help in reducing the water crisis in the state and water security can be ensured for future generations.
Concrete steps should be taken for water conservation
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that various water conservation activities should be carried out under the campaign. He said that 
apart from plantation and revival of water sources, water conservation awareness programs in every village, special works to promote rain water harvesting, efforts should be made to conserve water through community participation. Make efforts at every level to make the campaign successful. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also appealed to all the citizens of the state to actively contribute towards water conservation and make it a mass movement during the campaign in the state.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav gave instructions to make arrangements for drinking water at main crossings in rural and urban areas. He also said that a positive campaign should be started in schools to make children aware about water conservation. Water conservation activities should be organized in government schools during summer. Drinking water tanks should be cleaned for children so that clean drinking water is available to the students. Under the campaign, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has given instructions to build ponds in rural areas, small dams on rivers and to plant fruit trees around water streams for river conservation and to encourage organic farming.
The state level Jal Ganga Jal Sancharan Abhiyan will be launched on the coming 30th March, the day of Varsha Pratipada, from the banks of the Kshipra river in Ujjain. The ‘Jal Ganga Jal Sancharan Abhiyan’, which will run for about 90 days, will conclude on 30th June 2025. In the state-wide Jal Sancharan Abhiyan of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, more than 12 other departments and authorities including Water Resources, Narmada Valley Development Authority, Environment Department, Urban Development and Housing, Public Health Engineering, School Education, Horticulture and Agriculture will work together. The theme of the campaign has been kept as ‘Promotion and conservation of water sources with public participation’.
Prime Minister Shri Modi’s water conservation campaign has now become a mass movement
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav directed to start construction of ponds at Panchayat level to provide adequate water to the rural population. He said that the state government is committed to provide drinking water to the people in every village and water to the farmers for farming. Along with this, water structures should be redeveloped in forest areas and zoological parks so that the wild animals do not face any problem in the summer season and they get water. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan has become a massive mass movement across the country. The Madhya Pradesh government is also running a campaign towards water conservation on the principle of ‘farm water in the field – village water in the village’. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav directed the officials to prepare a record of all such rivers in the state, where crocodiles, gharials, turtles and other aquatic animals can be restored in the water streams. He said that the possibilities of releasing dolphin fish in Narmada should also be considered. All these efforts will conserve both rivers and aquatic animals.
50 thousand new farm ponds will be built
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that in the Jal Ganga Jal Sanvardhan Abhiyan, works will be done in ponds, water sources and temples of historical, cultural and religious importance. The cooperation of saints, public representatives, local community and administrative officials will be received in cleaning the water sources near the temples. The campaign will be formally started with Varun Puja and Jalabhishek on the first day of Vikram Samvat. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department has set a target of constructing 1000 new ponds in the Amrit Sarovar Abhiyan. An expenditure of Rs 200 crore is estimated for these development works. So far 300 places have been selected for pond construction, the selection process of the remaining places will be completed by March 30 through Geographical Information System (GIS) method. Also, 50 thousand new farm ponds will be constructed at a cost of Rs 100 crore, so that small and marginal farmers get adequate amount of water for irrigation. The department has also set a target of constructing one lakh new farm ponds in the year 2025.
Work on source catchment for river conservation
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that in this comprehensive campaign, emphasis will be laid on water conservation and augmentation in the watershed areas of more than 50 rivers of the state. To ensure that the water streams of Betwa and other rivers do not break, development works like gabion structure, trench, plantation, check dam and pond construction etc. will be done with the participation of the public. In this work, organizations like Art of Living should also be associated with the Jal Ganga Jal Samvardhan Abhiyan. Apart from this, an action plan for water conservation and plantation should be prepared through MNREGA by marking the Narmada Parikrama Path with a mobile app.
1 lakh Jaldoots will be prepared across the state
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that by ensuring the participation of the general public, renovation work of previously constructed water structures will be started. Special emphasis will be laid on deepening the ponds across the state. Pani Chaupal will be organized in rural areas, so that the villagers can participate in the importance of water conservation and the campaign. By giving training at the Panchayat level, the local people will be entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining water structures. Those who do excellent work in this will also be honored by giving certificates. Under the campaign, 1 lakh Jaldoots will be prepared across the state by selecting 2 to 3 men and women from every village. Along with this, construction of soak pits will also be encouraged to prevent dirty sewage water from mixing into water sources.
90 small and medium irrigation projects will be inaugurated in 90 days
In the meeting, the Panchayat and Rural Development Department and the Water Resources Department, the main departments associated with the implementation of Jal Ganga Jal Samvardhan, put forward suggestions for conservation of canals, stopping leakage from reservoirs, pitching of ponds, barrage repair work. Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources Dr. Rajora said that 90 small and medium irrigation projects of the state will be inaugurated in 90 days of the campaign. Along with this, works of other water structures will also be completed. Principal Secretary Public Health Engineering Mr. P. Narhari presented the action plan for geo tagging of tap water sources and groundwater recharge. Information was given about the promotion of 54 water structures in the action plan of the Urban Development and Housing Department. During the campaign, the Culture Department will organize various events including Sadaneera Film Festival, Water Conference, narrative on the water traditions of the state, picture exhibition. A mobile app is also being prepared for this.
Status of Jal Ganga Water Conservation Campaign 2024
It was told in the meeting that Jal Ganga Jal Samvardhan Abhiyan was run from 5 June to 30 June 2024 last year. During this period, 38 thousand 851 new works were done at a cost of 1056 crores. More than 302 crores were spent on 21 thousand 577 renovation/improvement works. In the year 2024, 5672 old stepwells and wells were renovated. 3751 new wells were constructed at a cost of Rs 93 crore. Also, an amount of 616 crores was spent on the construction and renovation of 7709 ponds. Similarly, the construction and renovation of 2925 check dams and stop dams cost Rs 119 crore. 7158 recharge pits and recharge shafts construction and renovation work was completed. More than 30 thousand works were done at a cost of about Rs 458 crore in other water conservation and promotion works.
Major activities to be undertaken by Water Resources Department in the campaign
All the canals of the state will be marked on the village map with the help of the Revenue Department and will be marked as “Government Canal” on the village map.
Dams and canals will be freed from encroachment.
At the end of the canal where it ends and meets a drain, a kilometre stone will be installed.
Cleaning work will be carried out with the help of MNREGA in nearly 40 thousand kilometer long canal system.
If there is leakage in the reservoirs, puddles and necessary housing work are also being done to stop the leakage.
In case of erosion or damage to the soil of the pond’s embankment (bund), they will be reconstructed.
Repair works of pitching of ponds, boulder toe and ghats etc. will be done.
Installation of gates in stop dam, barrage, weir and repair/additional construction work will be done in main wall, side wall, key wall, apron etc.
As much as possible buffer zones will be created on the banks of water structures and maximum plantation work will be done in the form of fencing to prevent encroachment on the banks of water structures.
Flushbar repair work will be done.
Sluice-well cleaning work will also be done during this campaign.
