State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 17 Jun 2025

Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan

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.