Chhattisgarh Celebrates Water Conservation Week

• 08 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

The Chhattisgarh Government celebrated Water Conservation Week under the ‘More Villages, More Water’ campaign.

Key Points

• ‘More Villages, More Water’ Campaign: 
  • It aims to promote water conservation practices at the village level, emphasizing community participation and sustainable water management.  
  • The campaign is linked to the broader Jal Shakti Abhiyan and encourages activities like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and efficient irrigation methods. 
• Other Water Conservation Initiatives: 
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): 
    • The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in 2019, covering 1,592 out of 2,836 blocks in 256 water-stressed districts across India.  
  • "Catch the Rain" Campaign: 
    • In 2021, the government launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) with the theme "Catch the Rain – Where it Falls, When it Falls." 
    • This phase expanded the campaign to all blocks in both rural and urban areas across the country. 
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025 
    • On World Water Day (22nd March 2025), Jal Shakti Ministry launched JSA: Catch the Rain 2025. 
    • Theme: “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Jan Jagrukta Ki Or” (Water Conservation through People's Participation and Public Awareness). 
    • The campaign will be implemented from 22nd March to 30th November 2025, with a focused emphasis on the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. 
      • The campaign targets 148 districts identified by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) as critical for water conservation. 
    • The 2025 edition emphasises deeper grassroots participation, inter-sectoral convergence and innovative financing mechanisms. 
      • Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the model district for the initiative. 
    • Key focus areas: 
      • Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting 
      • Geo-tagging & Inventory of Water Bodies; Scientific Planning 
      • Establishing Jal Shakti Kendras in All Districts 
      • Intensive Afforestation 
      • Public Awareness & Outreach Campaigns  

World Water Day

• It aims to raise awareness about water conservation and its sustainable management.  
• It was conceptualized at the 1992 Rio Summit and officially designated to be observed annually by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993.  
• The day aligns with UN SDG-6: Ensuring water and sanitation for all by 2030.  
• Theme (2025): ‘Glacier Preservation’

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)  

• About: The CGWB, established under the Ministry of Water Resource  (now Ministry of Jal Shakti), is the apex body for managing, exploring, monitoring, assessing, and regulating groundwater resources in India.   
  • Established in 1970, CGWB was initially formed by renaming the Exploratory Tube Wells Organization and was later merged with the Ground Water Wing of the Geological Survey of India in 1972.  
  • The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), constituted under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, regulates groundwater development to ensure its sustainability.  
• Key Functions and Responsibilities: CGWB provides scientific expertise for groundwater management, including exploration, monitoring, and water quality assessments.   
  • It also implements schemes for artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting to augment groundwater levels.  
• Scientific Reports: CGWB releases State and District hydrogeological reports, groundwater year books and Atlases.