PM Modi Launches Jal Shakti Abhiyan on the occasion of world water day. Highlights the need to conserve water and spread awareness for the implementation of the rainwater harvesting system.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ campaign at 12:30 pm on 22nd March 2021 via video conferencing. Highlighting the need for water conservation, PMO’s office tweeted that this campaign will take water conservation to the ground level through people’s participation. Also, it will encourage people to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to climatic conditions. Besides, it will nudge to make subsoil strata to ensure proper storage of water. Further, it will also include geo-tagging of all water bodies throughout the nation.
Ken Betwa Link Project Under Jal Shakti Abhiyan
Apart from this, Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have signed an MoU to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project at the event’s launch. The project will involve the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers. Besides, it involves the Lower Orr project, Kotha barrage and Bina complex multipurpose project t. This will facilitate the transfer of water from Ken to the Betwa River. Subsequently, it will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectare. Further, it will provide drinking water supply to about 6.2 million people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower. It will irrigate the water-deficient Bundelkhand region (spread over both States).
Jal Shakti Abhiyan has been implemented from the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country, from 22nd March to 30th November. The program has been rolled out in urban and rural areas, covering 734 districts and over 600,000 villages across the country. After the launch of the event, all gram panchayats discussed issues related to water conservation. Post this, Gram Sabhas took the pledge to save water.
Need For Resilient System For Sustainable Use Of Water
The Union Jal Shakti Minister, in a meeting around sustainable development goals and targets of 2030, emphasised the need to create a resilient system for sustainable use of water. He said that the project aims to make water available to the most vulnerable.
To conclude, the campaign launched is a step towards improving water security in India.