Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan

• 17 Jun 2025

Why in News? 

Launched on 30th March 2025, the Madhya Pradesh government’s Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan has led to the successful revival of the Ghoda Pachhad River, a tributary of the Narmada, in Khandwa district.

Key Points 

• Major Achievements of the Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan: 
  • Water Harvesting Using ‘Ridge to Valley’ Approach: 
    • Authorities adopted the ‘Ridge to Valley’ model to build water conservation structures along a 33 km stretch. 
    • This approach focuses on conserving every drop of water at the ridge level and slowing surface run-off volume and velocity. 
    • As a result, the Ghoda Pachhad now flows again, raising hopes for year-round water flow in the region’s rivers. 
  • Efforts to Control River Pollution: 
    • The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board surveyed major rivers including the Narmada, Chambal, Shipra, Betwa, Son, Tons, Tapti, Mahi, Sindh, and Ben Ganga. 
    • It has identified significant environmental concerns, including the discharge of around 450 million litres of domestic wastewater into rivers daily.  
    • To address this, the Urban Development Department is setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a total treatment capacity of 869 million litres per day.  
    • This will substantially improve the water quality of the state’s rivers and contribute to cleaner, more sustainable water resources. 
  • Wetland Conservation and Ramsar Recognition: 
    • Madhya Pradesh increased its number of Ramsar Sites from one in 2002 to five by 2025. 
      • These include Sankhya Sagar, Sirpur Wetland, Yashwant Sagar, Tawa Reservoir and Bhoj Wetland. 
    • Indore became India’s first Wetland City, setting a benchmark in urban water management. 
    • Additionally, over 330 traditional wells and stepwells have been preserved in Indore, contributing to the revival of the region's historic water culture. 
• Narmada River: 
  • About: 
    • The Narmada River flows westward through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, covering a basin area of about 98,796 sq km. 
      • The river spans a course of approximately 1,300 km and is fed by 41 tributaries. 
    • The river originates from the Maikal Range in eastern Madhya Pradesh, near the Chhattisgarh border. 
    • An ancient Greek geographer referred to the Narmada as Namade, indicating its historical significance as a major route linking the Arabian Sea and the Ganga basin. 
    • It features numerous waterfalls, including the prominent Dhuandhar Falls, southwest of Jabalpur. 
    • Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh houses the Narmada Kund, regarded as the river's sacred origin. 
  • Water Resource Development: 
    • The Narmada serves as a vital resource for hydroelectricity generation and irrigation. 
    • Major dams on the river include the Sardar Sarovar Dam (Gujarat), Indira Sagar Dam (Punasa, MP), Omkareshwar Dam, Bargi Dam, Maheshwar Dam. 
  • Narmada Bachao Andolan: 
    • Led by activists like Medha Patkar and Baba Amte, the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) protested the displacement caused by dam projects. 
    • Their advocacy led to temporary halts by the Supreme Court and the World Bank, which withdrew from the project in 1993. 
      • In 2000, the Supreme Court allowed phased dam construction, conditional upon the rehabilitation of affected communities. 
    • Despite completion, the NBA continues to raise concerns over rising reservoir levels and risks to displaced populations.