More than 2.75 lakh water conservation projects have been completed in Gujarat as part of the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ campaign, according to Water Supply Minister Ishwarsinh Patel. These efforts aim to tackle irregular rainfall and increasing water demand in the state. Gujarat ranks sixth in India for the number of water conservation initiatives carried out.
In the first phase of the campaign, a total of 1,33,522 water conservation works were finished across the state. The ongoing second phase has already seen the initiation of 1,41,821 additional projects, bringing the total number of works to over 2.75 lakh. The primary goal of the initiative is to enhance groundwater levels through structured rainwater storage and recharge methods.
Various stakeholders, including government bodies, local self-government entities, farmer groups, NGOs, and citizens, are actively participating in the program by providing voluntary labor. Different types of projects, such as borewell recharge structures, check dams, rainwater harvesting systems, and pond deepening, are being executed under this campaign. A total of 17 distinct water conservation activities are being implemented.
Gujarat has been recognized for its performance in urban water conservation efforts, with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation ranking third, Surat Municipal Corporation fourth, and Jamnagar Municipal Corporation seventh among the top 10 municipal bodies in the country.
