Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai launches urban groundwater mission to tackle water crisis
RAIPUR:
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai
launched the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Groundwater Conservation Mission (Urban) on Tuesday evening. The mission aims to implement comprehensive, mission-mode strategies for conserving groundwater and rainwater across all urban local bodies in Chhattisgarh.
During the launch at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur, the Chief Minister unveiled the mission's brochure and an informational video outlining its objectives. He also handed over compassionate appointment letters to the families of 18 municipal employees who died during service in nine urban bodies of the state.
The launch was followed by a technical workshop where hydrologists, real estate developers, industry groups, and officials from departments such as Forest, Public Works, Public Health Engineering, and Water Resources discussed
water conservation strategies
and their anticipated outcomes.
Chief Minister Sai emphasised the critical importance of water. "Life is unimaginable without water. With growing concerns over water availability, the Urban Administration Department has initiated this ambitious mission. I am confident this mission will serve as a milestone in conserving and augmenting rainwater and groundwater," he stated.
He highlighted that the state is already running several water conservation initiatives.
The Panchayat and Rural Development Department is implementing the 'Mor Gaon Mor Pani' campaign with active community participation. He noted that both urban and rural campaigns share the common goal of sustainable water management.
The Chief Minister also referred to the national-level
Amrit Sarovar initiative
, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under which new ponds are being created and old ones rejuvenated across the country.
Chief Minister Sai remarked that the four-hour expert dialogue held during the event reflects the seriousness with which the mission is being approached, warning that inaction today could lead to severe water crises in the future.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao and water conservationist Rajendra Singh, known as 'Waterman of India', addressed the gathering and responded to participant queries. A team from the Surat Municipal Corporation shared their successful models of
rainwater harvesting
and groundwater recharge.
Sao stated that valuable guidance was received from the 'Waterman of India' and the Surat civic team. He noted that key recommendations included integrating water conservation education into school curricula and aligning cropping patterns with rainfall trends in the state.
Highlighting future challenges in ensuring urban water supply for drinking and other needs, he emphasised that this mission was launched to address those challenges proactively. "Chhattisgarh receives ample rainfall. With careful collection and management, we can resolve our water scarcity issues," he added.
Water Resources Minister Kedar Kashyap expressed optimism that the mission would lead to exemplary outcomes.
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