Raipur, Sep 02:  Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented the state’s community-driven water conservation model at the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s national summit at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday after Chhattisgarh secured the top rank in the third phase of the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ (JSJB) campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit, where Chhattisgarh was recognized for leading groundwater recharge efforts and placing five of its districts—Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, and Kabirdham—in the country’s top 10 list.

During the ‘Catch the Rain’ session, deputy chief minister Arun Sao delivered a detailed presentation outlining Chhattisgarh’s initiatives in rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and the preservation of drinking water sources.

Chief minister Sai stated that Chhattisgarh has transformed water conservation from an administrative scheme into a mass movement by placing farmers, Gram Panchayats, Jal Sakhis, Jal Mitras, and local communities at the centre of execution.

Chhattisgarh has consistently improved its national standing across all three phases of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign.

Under JSJB 1.0, the state created 4,05,561 water structures to secure second place nationally. In JSJB 2.0, Chhattisgarh completed 23,07,768 structures out of 24,07,456 registered, maintaining its second-place position.

In JSJB 3.0, Chhattisgarh moved to the first rank nationally by completing 77,719 structures out of 79,775 registered units. The campaign focuses on retaining rainwater locally and maximizing groundwater recharge through structures suited to local geographical conditions.

Highlighting an initiative from Koriya district, chief minister Sai presented the ‘5 per cent Model’, where farmers voluntarily dedicate five per cent of their agricultural land to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures.

Under this model, farmers contribute the land while Gram Panchayats, local communities, and government departments coordinate the construction work.

The initiative incorporates geo-tagging, regular monitoring, and review mechanisms, supported by field-level involvement from Jal Sakhis, Jal Mitras, and Panchayat representatives.

Recalling his farming background in his native village Bagiya, chief minister Sai noted that water security directly impacts crop yield, livelihoods, and rural stability, which guides the government’s approach.

Community participation and targeted engineering structures at the village level have helped five Chhattisgarh districts rank among the national top 10.

The state’s conservation measures have reduced the number of water-stressed blocks from 26 to 19, with five critical blocks expected to transition into the normal category shortly.

Along with constructing new harvesting structures, the state is restoring traditional water bodies, mapping units, and geo-tagging assets under the message ‘Catch the Rain — Jahan Jal Gire, Wahin Sahejein’.

At the summit, chief minister Sai proposed that every state formulate its own ‘Catch the Rain Plan’ tailored to local geography, rainfall patterns, and groundwater conditions to set clear target strategies.

He also suggested introducing ‘State Water Awards’ to encourage top-performing states, strengthening BISAG-N mapping of water structures, and instituting quarterly progress reviews chaired by state Chief Secretaries.

Chief minister Sai affirmed Chhattisgarh’s readiness to share its operational strategies with other states to support the national goal of creating two crore new water structures by 31 May 2027.

Union minister of Jal Shakti C R Patil, state water resources ministers, principal secretary to the chief minister Subodh Kumar Singh, secretary of the water resources department Rajesh Sukumar Toppo, and senior departmental officials attended the summit.