Over 3.5 lakh Water Conservation Measures taken up in single month under JSA

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : In a countrywide effort to enhance water security especially in water stressed districts, the Centre initiated Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) has delivered over 3.5 lakh water conservation measures in 256 districts of which 1.54 lakh are of water conservation and rain water harvesting measures, 20,000 relate to the rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, over 65,000 are reuse and recharge structures and 1.23 lakh are watershed development projects.

An estimated 2.64 crore people have already participated in the Abhiyan making it a Jan Andolan. About 4.25 crore saplings were planted as a part of the efforts. The outcome of the first phase of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan was announced at a review by Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha in New Delhi on August 2, 2019.

Chairing the review, Union Cabinet Secretary Sinha appreciated the efforts and commitment shown by the nodal officers in the campaign and encouraged them to closely work with districts for bringing significant changes through key interventions and initiatives. He said, “JSA has definitely created a lot of buzz in the country, and it will do lot of good in the years to come. Our aim is to ensure the benefits reach the farmers at the ground-level.“

Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, DDWS, stated that the JSA has led to an increase in groundwater level, surface water storage capacity, soil moisture in farm lands, and increased plant cover. The JSA is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Centre and State Governments, and is primarily a Jal Sanchay campaign, which has gained phenomenal momentum in the past one month, according to a PIB release.

The campaign is successfully running with the involvement of about 1,300 officers of the central government joined by state and district officials who are required to take up 3 field visits.