Raipur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday stressed the vital role of public participation in water conservation to secure the future of the state. Addressing a workshop on water conservation organised under the ‘Sujlam Bharat’ initiative at Omaya Garden, Raipur, the Chief Minister asserted that a safe future is only possible “if there is water, there is tomorrow.”
Chief Minister Sai underlined the cultural and economic importance of Chhattisgarh’s major rivers, including the Mahanadi, Indravati, Shivnath, and Kelo, calling them the lifelines of the state. To symbolise the collective responsibility towards conservation, the Chief Minister offered sacred water from the Kelo River into a Kalash (urn), representing the Earth.
He urged public representatives, officials, and citizens to integrate water conservation into their daily lives, turning it into a mass movement to ensure Chhattisgarh remains lush and prosperous. The Chief Minister cited a citizen-led success story, mentioning a woman Sarpanch in Rajnandgaon who, through voluntary efforts, revived dried hand pumps—an initiative that later received recognition and financial assistance from the Central Government.
Water Resources Department Secretary Rajesh Sukumar Toppo informed the gathering that the program was conceptualised under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that various departments have been instructed to conduct similar seminars and workshops on water conservation themes.
More than 300 participants working in the field of water conservation attended the event. Secretary Toppo highlighted that in the past year, district collectors and relevant departments constructed over 3.5 lakh water structures, leading to a significant rise in groundwater levels across the state.
The event was also attended by Padma Shri Phoolbasan Bai Yadav, Urban Administration Secretary Dr Basavaraju S, and Public Health Engineering Secretary Mohammad Qaiser Abdul Haq. The Chief Minister reiterated that public awareness and active participation are key to addressing the state’s water challenges.
I’ve removed all bolding from the polished news copy and the feedback table for the power plant accident report.