Raipur : Chhattisgarh has secured the first position in the country under the third phase of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB 3.0) campaign. The state has also made its mark at the national level with five districts — Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Balodabazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdham — featuring among the top 10 districts.
The achievement was highlighted at a national water summit in New Delhi, where Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented Chhattisgarh’s water conservation model in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Farmers Giving 5% Land for Water Conservation
One of the key highlights of Chhattisgarh’s model is the ‘5 Percent Model’ started in Koriya district. Under this initiative, farmers are voluntarily giving around 5 percent of their farmland for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
The idea is simple — instead of allowing rainwater to flow away, it is stored in the fields and allowed to slowly enter the ground. Farmers, panchayats and local communities are working together to make the initiative successful.
More Than 28 Lakh Water Structures
Chhattisgarh has performed strongly in all three phases of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign.
- JSJB 1.0 : 4.05 lakh water structures were created.
- JSJB 2.0 : More than 24 lakh structures were registered, with over 23 lakh completed.
- JSJB 3.0 : 79,775 structures were registered and 77,719 have been completed.
Overall, more than 28 lakh water structures have been created and registered in the state through the three phases.
Water-Stressed Blocks Reduced
The state has also reported improvement in its groundwater situation. The number of water-deficit blocks has come down from 26 to 19. Five critical blocks are also expected to move into the normal category.
CM Sai Gives Suggestions for Other States
At the national summit, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai suggested that every state should prepare its own ‘Catch the Rain Plan’ according to its rainfall pattern, geography and groundwater condition.
He also suggested starting State Water Awards to encourage better-performing states and strengthening the mapping of water structures through BISAG-N. He proposed a review of the campaign every three months under the Chief Secretary.
PM Modi’s ‘Catch the Rain’ Message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stressed the need to save rainwater where it falls. Chhattisgarh is trying to implement this approach at the village and farm level by promoting rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and protection of traditional water sources.
The Chhattisgarh model shows that water conservation becomes more effective when the government, farmers, panchayats and local communities work together. The state’s first position in JSJB 3.0 has now put this people-driven model on the national platform.
