Government Prioritizes Water Conservation: Meeting on Artificial Recharge Structures Held Under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative.
New Delhi:
In a pivotal meeting chaired by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, the government emphasized the importance of inter-sectoral convergence for constructing artificial recharge structures under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative. This initiative is a vital component of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA) 2024 campaign.
Held in New Delhi, the meeting brought together senior officials from key ministries to discuss strategies for enhancing water conservation efforts nationwide. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 6, 2024, the JSJB initiative focuses on community engagement and a coordinated approach to sustainable water management.
Key discussion points included:
1. Action Plan for Implementation: Ministries were tasked with reviewing existing rainwater harvesting structures and developing mission-mode action plans to maximize groundwater replenishment.
2. Role of Partner Ministries: Each ministry was encouraged to leverage its existing resources to support the construction of artificial recharge structures and set self-targets for implementation.
3. Community Engagement: Ministries like Education and Youth Affairs were urged to promote awareness and grassroots participation in the initiative.
4. Affordable Solutions: Emphasis was placed on building small, localized recharge structures tailored to community needs, with suggestions to collaborate with Public Sector Undertakings to mobilize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
5. Monitoring and Accountability: A real-time dashboard on the JSA portal is being developed for tracking progress, with ministries instructed to ensure regular updates from Central Ministry Nodal Officers.
The meeting highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts across sectors to prioritize water conservation as a national agenda, reinforcing the JSJB initiative’s role in ensuring long-term water sustainability and resilience in India.
