Chhattisgarh tops ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign, five districts among country’s top 10

Chhattisgarh leads the nation in the Ministry of Jal Shakti's third phase of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) and Catch the Rain campaigns, surpassing others with 77,719 completed water conservation structures, as per an official statement. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented Chhattisgarh's water conservation model at a Delhi summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The JSJB, a community-led initiative, encourages water conservation and groundwater recharge through affordable structures. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao detailed the state's efforts on rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and drinking water source conservation during the campaign session. Sai proposed four measures to boost water conservation nationwide: state-specific Catch the Rain plans, State Water Awards for top performers, mapping through BISAG-N, and quarterly reviews chaired by chief secretaries.

Chhattisgarh has constructed over 4 lakh structures in the first phase and 24 lakh in the second, with more than 23 lakh completed under JSJB 2.0. In the third phase, 79,775 structures have been built, of which 77,719 are finished, earning the state the top position nationally. Koriya district pioneered the 5 Per Cent Model, where farmers allocate five percent of their land to groundwater recharge.

Five districts—Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara, and Kabirdha—rank among the country's top 10 for water conservation. Preliminary data show a decline in groundwater-stressed blocks from 26 to 19, with critical blocks expected to reach zero by May 31, 2027. The Centre aims to construct two crore new water conservation structures by then.