Water is fundamental to life, and ensuring its availability for future generations remains a national priority. With this objective, the Government of India established the National Water Mission (NWM) under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Since its inception, the mission has focused on water conservation, efficient water use and public participation in water management. A significant step in this direction was the launch of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in 2019. Under the initiative, lakhs of rainwater harvesting structures were created, water bodies were redeveloped and Jal Shakti Kendras were established across districts. Building on these efforts, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (CTR) campaign in 2021-22, which has since evolved into a nationwide movement for water conservation. At the recent 66th edition of “Water Talk”, hosted by NWM, Archana Varma, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, discussed the significance of the CTR campaign in the current context and the need for innovative and sustainable methods for water conservation. Edited excerpts…
Climate change intensifies water challenges
Rising greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to increasingly visible impacts of climate change, creating new challenges for water management.
Extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are affecting water availability across regions. While some urban centres like Mumbai are experiencing flooding due to intense rainfall events, other areas continue to face inadequate rainfall and groundwater depletion.
These trends highlight the growing need to strengthen water conservation measures and enhance the country’s ability to capture, store and efficiently utilise available water resources.
Public participation remains central
A recurring theme in India’s water conservation efforts is the importance of community participation. Water conservation initiatives are increasingly being viewed as successful only when they evolve into people’s movements with active citizen involvement.
The emphasis on Jan Bhagidari reflects the belief that sustainable outcomes can be achieved when communities take ownership of local water resources and participate in rainwater harvesting, conservation and restoration activities.
Citizens, volunteers and community groups undertaking such initiatives are helping create long-term awareness and behavioural change around water use.
Conservation targets expand
The scale of water conservation efforts has increased significantly in recent years. Under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative, the target of creating 10 million water conservation structures has been exceeded, by achieving around 15.5 million structures.
To maintain momentum, the CTR campaign was launched with a focus on conserving every drop of rainwater. Key activities include the construction of recharge structures, restoration of traditional water bodies and wider community engagement in water conservation initiatives.
Focus on groundwater recharge
A major priority under the campaign is the expansion of groundwater recharge infrastructure. It is encouraging the construction of additional recharge shafts and promoting the use of defunct borewells as recharge structures. The campaign also highlights the importance of restoring traditional water conservation structures such as baolis, tankas and local water bodies.
The approach being promoted combines traditional knowledge with modern technology and scientific planning, enabling more effective and sustainable water conservation practices.
Afforestation and water retention
Alongside water infrastructure, greater emphasis is being placed on afforestation and greening measures. Increasing vegetation cover can reduce soil erosion, minimise runoff and improve water retention within local ecosystems. Such interventions help retain rainwater on land rather than allowing it to flow rapidly into rivers and oceans.
