Lok Sabha Question No. 2396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Catch the Rain-2024 Campaign in Jalpaiguri District
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2396

ANSWERED ON 13.03.2025

## CATCH THE RAIN-2024 CAMPAIGN IN JALPAIGURI DISTRICT

2396.   DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the 'Catch the Rain-2024' campaign has been launched in Jalpaiguri district;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the specific initiatives taken under this campaign in the said district; and

(c)  the  measures  implemented/being  implemented  by  the  Government  to  promote  sustainable  water management practices among the local communities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) The Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) was launched in the year 2019 in 1,592 blocks out of 2,836 blocks in 256 water stressed districts of the country. JSA could not be taken up in 2020 due to Covid pandemic. In 2021, 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' (JSA: CTR) with the theme 'Catch the Rain - Where it Falls When it Falls' was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister to cover all the blocks of all districts (rural as well as urban areas) across the country. JSA: CTR has become an annual feature since 2021.  Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) 2024 campaign in all rural and urban areas of all districts  (all  blocks  and  municipalities)  of  the  country  including  Jalpaiguri  district  of  West  Bengal.  The nationwide campaign, JSA: CTR 2024, with the theme 'Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti,' focused on saving and conserving rainwater across both urban and rural areas in every district including Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.  The  campaign  aimed  at  constructing  Rain  Water  Harvesting  Structures  (RWHS)  tailored  to  local climatic conditions and sub-soil strata, bolstered by the active involvement of citizens. Notably, under the Abhiyan, since 2019, over 1.70 crore water conservation works have been undertaken across the country, including more than 56 lakh water conservation and rainwater harvesting works, about 12 lakh renovations of  traditional  water  bodies,  more  than  30  lakh  reuse  and  recharge  structures  and  about  72  lakh  watershed development  works.  Under  this  campaign,  15,976  water  conservation  works  (Water  Conservation,  Rain Water Harvesting, Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies, Reuse and Recharge Structures and Watershed Development)  have  been  undertaken  in  the  Jalpaiguri  district  of  West  Bengal  during  22.03.2021  to 11.03.2025.

(c) Water  is  a  State  subject  and  the  Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States  through technical  and  financial  support.  The  Government  has  implemented  extensive  measures  to  promote sustainable water management practices among the local communities in partnership with State Governments and  local  authorities  to  engage  local  communities/stakeholders  in  the  implementation  of  the  JSA:  CTR initiative. To expand the vision of JSA: CTR campaign, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative has been  launched  under  the  JSA:  CTR  campaign  to  promote  community-driven  water  conservation  and groundwater  recharge  across  the  country.  The  initiative  focuses  on  constructing  one  million  artificial recharge structures through a convergent and participatory approach by leveraging multiple funding sources such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Per Drop More Crop, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana  (PMKSY),  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  (CAMPA),  Finance  Commission  grants,  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Individual & Philanthropic contributions etc. It is expected to build 1 million artificial  recharge structures through Jal Sanchay - Jan Bhagidari harnessing both government and private initiative  by  31 st May,  2025.  As  on  12.03.2025,  about  7.63  lakh  recharge  structures  have  already  been onboarded under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative.

Rooted in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari (people's participation), Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM) launched in 2019 aims to provide 55 litres per capita per day (LPCD) of clean drinking water that meets Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) IS 10500 norms, ensuring a regular and long-term supply to every rural household. With a community-led  approach,  technology-driven  governance  and  a  strong  focus  on  skilling,  the  Jal  Jeevan Mission (JJM) has become a revolution in rural water supply. At its core is the Village Water & Sanitation Committee  (VWSC),  empowering  villagers  to  take  charge  of  their  water  supply  from  planning  to maintenance.  At  the  district  level,  District  Water  &  Sanitation  Missions  (DWSMs)  provide  support, resources  and  coordination.  Rooted  in  Jan  Bhagidari  (people's  participation),  this  bottom-up  approach ensures that JJM is sustainable, inclusive and truly driven by the people it serves. At the time of launch, only 3.23 crore (16%) rural households had access to household tap connections. Today, more than 15.50 crore (80%) rural households across the country have access to safe drinking water at their doorstep, transforming millions of lives.

Atal Bhujal Yojana demonstrates community-driven groundwater management aiming to enhance the sustainability  of  this  vital  resource  in  select  water-  stressed  areas  in  identified  states  such  as  Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It is the first scheme of its kind  aiming  to  bring  behavioural  change  in  the  community  by  focusing  on  demand-side  management  of groundwater.  An  area  of  around  6.7  lakh  Hectares  has  been  brought  under  efficient  water  use  practices including Drip, Sprinkler, Mulching, Crop Diversification etc. More than 70,000 wells are being monitored for water level at Gram Panchayat (GP) level and shared with community. More than 93,000 existing Water Conservation  and  Artificial  Recharge  structures  have  been  mapped.  1333  GPs  in  61  Blocks  have  shown improvement in ground water level.

The Namami Gange Mission stands as flagship initiative of the Government, ensuring the abatement of pollution and the rejuvenation of the river Ganga through a river basin approach. Recognized globally as one of the Top 10 World Restoration Flagships by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration led by United Nations  Environment  Programme  (UNEP)  and  Food  and  Agriculture  Organization  (FAO),  the  mission exemplifies holistic river revival, focusing on pollution control, ensuring uninterrupted river flow, fostering a people-river connection, conserving the river ecosystem and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) launched in 2014 aimed to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF). It led to constructing over 100 million toilets, raising sanitation coverage from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019. Over 6 lakh villages declared themselves ODF, making it world's largest behavioural change program. SBM-G 2.0 launched to focus on sustaining  ODF and scaling waste management, transforming villages into ODF Plus Model. SBM is committed to fostering an ecosystem where local communities lead and sustain Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems, driving long-term, systemic change. Through active Jan Bhagidari and the strengthened roles of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSMs), the Mission empowers communities to take ownership of sanitation efforts. This grassroots-led approach will ensure that India not only sustains its ODF status but also advances towards universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Moreover, other ministries/departments are also implementing their schemes to promote sustainable water management practices among the local communities. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has taken several steps towards sustainable management of water in urban areas through issuance of various guidelines and  implementation  of  National  Missions  i.e.,  AtaI  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation (AMRUT)  &  AMRUT  2.0  Under  AMRUT  Mission,  in  Water  Supply  sector,  Urban  Local  Bodies (ULBs)/States  also  take  up  projects  related  to  new/  augmentation/rehabilitation  of  water  supply  system; rejuvenation  of  water  bodies  for  water  supply  and  recharge  of  ground  water  etc.  Under  AMRUT  2.0, States/UTs also involve citizens in water quality monitoring. AMRUT Mitra initiative has also been launched to actively involve Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the water sector.

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