Raipur, Feb 20: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday reaffirmed the Chhattisgarh government’s commitment to transforming water conservation into a “Jan Andolan” (mass movement) across the state. Presiding over a high-level review meeting on Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 2.0 alongside Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, the Chief Minister stated that Chhattisgarh aims to once again lead by example and set new national benchmarks in groundwater recharge.
The review meeting, organised by the National Water Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with the state government, saw participation from district collectors via video conferencing. Addressing the officials, Chief Minister Sai emphasised that the success of JSJB 2.0 hinges on active public participation. He noted that the state is working on a mission mode to ensure that every drop of rainwater is harvested to secure the future of the farming community and rural households.
Chhattisgarh has already established itself as a national frontrunner in the sector, having secured the second position across India during JSJB 1.0. Under the first phase, the state created more than four lakh recharge structures within a short span. Building on this success, the state has already completed over 88,000 works under JSJB 2.0, with an additional 42,000 projects currently in progress across various districts.
The meeting highlighted successful local models that have gained national attention. These include the “CREDAI–Raipur” low-cost recharge model, developed in partnership with the Raipur Municipal Corporation, and the Korea district “5 per cent model.” Under the latter, farmers dedicate a portion of their agricultural land specifically for rainwater recharge pits, demonstrating how locally suited, low-cost interventions can yield significant outcomes.
Addressing the collectors, Union Minister C R Patil stressed the urgency of creating adequate recharge capacity before the onset of the monsoon. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, water conservation has evolved into a nationwide movement. The Union Minister further highlighted that substantial funds under MGNREGA have been earmarked for these activities and urged the district administrations to ensure optimal utilisation of resources before 31 March 2026.
Minister Patil called for focused action in critical and semi-critical districts, regular monitoring, and timely data uploads on the JSJB portal. He also encouraged stronger convergence between government schemes, community participation, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The session was attended by senior officials, including Union Secretary V L Kantha Rao, Additional Secretary and Mission Director Archana Verma, and Secretary to the Chhattisgarh government Rajesh Toppo. Collectors from Durg, Bilaspur, and Surajpur shared detailed presentations on innovative practices and large-scale mobilisation efforts being implemented at the grassroots level.