Chhattisgarh's Durg sets water conservation record: 1,200 soak pits built in 2 hours across PMAY homes
The campaign, executed on the morning of June 13, was not just about numbers. It was a strategic intervention aimed at addressing the alarming depletion of groundwater levels, particularly in Durg and Dhamdha blocks, which are classified as 'stressed zones'. Groundwater in these areas is available only at depths of 600 to 800 feet, making recharge efforts crucial for sustainability.
Speaking to The Times of India, Durg Zila Panchayat CEO Bajarang Dubey, who spearheaded the initiative, said, 'This was purely a community-led effort under the Mor Gaon, Mor Paani (my village my water), aimed at conserving rainwater and transform it into a mass movement.
People constructed soak pits on their own without waiting for government assistance, which helped save approximately Rs 60 lakh of public funds.
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There are 4,200 PMAY houses across the district's three development blocks — Durg, Dhamdha, and Patan. Of these, soak pits were built at 1,200 houses, with four homes per gram panchayat contributing to the effort. The district has 300 gram panchayats, and all were mobilised for the initiative.
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Unlike previous records, such as the 660 random soak pits in Koriya district that included Anganwadis and other government buildings, Durg's record focused solely on PMAY households, underscoring a more targeted and strategic approach.
Each soak pit measures 2.5 feet in length, width, and depth, and is designed to capture and recharge water from household runoff and rooftops, thereby reducing surface water loss and improving groundwater levels.
Water discharged from households, including runoff from rooftops and domestic use, will be collected and absorbed into the ground through the soak pits, helping to replenish the groundwater table, he said.
'The cost of building a soak pit usually ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. But thanks to the people's voluntary labour, the government did not spend a rupee,' Dubey said, adding that awareness drives and the involvement of field engineers played a crucial role in convincing beneficiaries.
The initiative is also seen as a model of convergence and accountability. Beneficiaries under PMAY receive subsidies for house construction, toilets, tap connections, and electricity. 'We told them that when they are already availing multiple benefits, it is only fair to contribute sweat equity for a soak pit that would ultimately help their own water security — and they agreed,' said Dubey.
Efforts are now on to cover the remaining PMAY households in the district, aiming to further scale up this low-cost, high-impact intervention.
With this achievement, Durg not only set a new record but also highlighted how grassroots participation can address environmental challenges effectively and economically.
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