Lok Sabha Question No. 4492 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Community Participation in Water Conservation Projects
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar, Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4492

ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026

## COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS

4492. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

## SHRI AMAR SHARADRAO KALE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government  to enhance community  participation in the planning, implementation  and  maintenance  of  water  conservation  projects  under  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan:  Catch  the Rain campaign in the country;

(b) the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and local community groups in spreading awareness about water conservation and the outcomes achieved therefrom in the country;

(c) the initiatives undertaken for capacity building and technical training of local stakeholders including the  establishment  of  Jal  Shakti  Kendras  and  implementation  of  the  Nal  Jal  Mitra  programme  in  the country; and

(d)  the  impact  of  such  community-based  initiatives  on  the  sustainability  and  effectiveness  of  water conservation efforts across various regions, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (d) 'Water' being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including its conservation are  studied,  planned,  funded  and  executed  by  the  State  Governments  themselves  as  per  their  own resources and priorities. The Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up by the State Governments.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 as a time-bound, missionmode water  conservation  campaign  in  256  water  stressed  districts  of  the  country.  The  Hon'ble  Prime Minister launched 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' (JSA: CTR) in 2021 with the tagline 'Catch the Rain - Where it Falls When it Falls'. The JSA: CTR 2025 was launched with the theme 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or' emphasizing community participation and water conservation awareness. The Abhiyan emphasizes Jan Bhagidari by involving local communities in identification, execution and maintenance of water conservation works.

Under  JSA:  CTR,  Jal  Shakti  Kendras(JSKs)  are  set  up  with  the  objective  to  serve  as  dynamic resource  and  knowledge  hubs,  driving  transformative  change  in  water  conservation,  management  and accessibility.  In  addition,  JSKs  assist  District  Magistrates  /Collectors  in  coordinating  all  water-related activities within the district. They function as facilitation centers for planning, preparation and addressing water-related issues. As knowledge centers, JSKs disseminate information on critical topics such as water conservation methods, water use efficiency, groundwater policies, efficient irrigation techniques, water quality and greywater management. They also serve as technical guidance centers, offering advice and support to local communities on these matters.

To further enhance outreach, the National Water Mission (NWM) collaborated with the Department of Youth Affairs, leveraging the extensive network of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and its youth  clubs  to  mobilize  grassroots  participation  in  water  conservation  efforts  under  the  JSA:  CTR campaign.

The  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti,  through  the  Swachh  Sujal  Shakti  Samman  initiative,  celebrates  and acknowledges  the  exemplary  contributions  of  women  in  promoting  water  conservation,  sustainable sanitation,  and  hygiene  practices.  This  recognition  highlights  the  crucial  role  women  play  in  leading community-driven efforts toward water conservation and its sustainable  use. A monthly  'Water  Talk' series  has  been  in  place  since  March  2019,  wherein  Water  Talkers  including  women,  grassroots practitioners, experts, representatives from NGOs, and individuals from diverse walks of life are invited to share their best water conservation practices.

Moreover,  under  the  ongoing  JSA:  CTR  campaign,  several  innovative  models  of  groundwater recharge and water conservation are observed across various regions which showcasing the diversity of locally adapted and community-driven solutions. A separate outreach initiative, 'Dialogue with DMs', has also been organized since August 2020, where District Magistrates/ Collectors/ Deputy Commissioners share their field-level innovations and experiences in water conservation, fostering crosslearning and inspiring replication of successful practices.

'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' (JSJB) initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat on 6 September 2024 to further strengthen the JSA: CTR campaign. The JSJB initiative focuses on intensifying community action and mobilization to build low-cost rainwater harvesting structures in low cost and saturation mode. The initiative  leverages  community funds, individual donations, Corporate Social Responsibility Funds and others for construction of low-cost structures like borewells, recharge shafts, recharge pits, using locally available  material,  to  harvest  rainwater,  to  boost  ground  water  level  and  provide  local  tailor-made solution  to  water  issues.  The  objective  is  to  ensure  that  every  drop  of  water  is  conserved  through collective  efforts,  following  a  whole-of-society  and  whole-of-government  approach.  By  fostering community ownership, the initiative seeks to develop cost-effective, local solutions at the micro level for water  conservation  and  ground  water  recharge.  The  JSJB  initiative  is  guided  by  the  3Cs  principle-

Community, CSR and Cost, ensuring effective convergence and maximized outcomes. The Government promotes the JSJB initiative  in  partnership  with  State  Governments  and  local  authorities  to  ensure  its widespread  reach  and  awareness.  The  initiative  aims  at  forging  partnership  with  stakeholders  such  as NGOs, Trusts, Civil Societies and educational institutions to engage the broader community effectively.

Under the JSJB initiative, several innovative models of groundwater recharge and water conservation are observed across various regions which showcases the diversity of locally adapted and community-driven solutions. Few of them are given below.

- i. The  'Karmbhoomi  se  Matribhoomi'  Model  reflects  contributions  made  by  individuals working  in  Gujarat  towards  recharge  projects  in  their  native  states  such  as  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. This voluntary and emotional investment has enabled crossstate support for sustainable groundwater recharge.
- ii. The  Gir  Ganga  Trust  model  in  Gujarat  showcases  a  philanthropic  and  community-led approach to water conservation. Local communities have actively contributed through both in-kind  labour  and  resources  for  the  creation,  operation  and  maintenance  of  recharge structures, thereby fostering a strong sense of ownership and long-term sustainability. This model demonstrates how civil society partnerships can play a transformative role in scaling groundwater recharge efforts.
- iii. In Maharashtra, the Jal Tara Model involves farmers systematically constructing standardized recharge pits measuring 4 ft × 4 ft × 6 ft across agricultural land. This lowtech but impactful intervention significantly enhances infiltration and supports the recharge of shallow aquifers, thereby benefiting both crop productivity and groundwater sustainability.
- iv. The 5% Model from Korea district in Chhattisgarh illustrates how terraced recharge pits constructed on 5% of cultivable land can significantly improve local aquifer recharge. This model  integrates  water  conservation  directly  into  land-use  planning  and  agricultural practices, resulting in improved soil moisture retention and enhanced groundwater levels. On each  farmland,  a  shallow  terraced  recharge  pit  is  constructed  in  a  "pit  within  a  pit" design, with farmers voluntarily contributing 5% of their cultivable land.
- v. In Banaskantha, Gujarat, a large-scale initiative has focused on the construction of low-cost artificial  recharge  structures  in  arid  regions.  This  intervention  was  made  possible  by leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and the active participation of farmer cooperatives. The  model  demonstrates  how  public-private collaboration can effectively  address  regional  water  stress,  offering  a  scalable  and  replicable  solution  for water-scarce areas.

Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  play  a  central  role  in  mobilising  communities,  facilitating  locallevel planning and ensuring participatory implementation and monitoring of water conservation works. Women  Self  Help  Groups,  youth,  students  and  local  community  groups  are  actively  involved  in awareness generation, behaviour change communication and social mobilization, thereby strengthening grassroots participation and ownership. Capacity building and sensitisation of local stakeholders form an integral  part  of  JSA:  CTR  and  JSJB.  Review  and  coordination  meetings  are  held  with  Central  Nodal Officers  and  District  Magistrates,  supported  by  structured  guidelines  and  checklists,  to  strengthen  the water conservation works, implementation and monitoring. IEC activities, community meetings and field interactions are undertaken to enhance awareness, technical understanding and participatory implementation at the grassroots level.

Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)- Har Ghar Jal, NGOs/ Community Based Organizations /Self Help Groups /Voluntary Organizations are empaneled as Implementation Support Agencies to handhold and  train  Village  Water  &  Sanitation  Committee  /Pani  Samiti  in  planning,  mobilizing  and  engaging communities,  disseminating  information  and  encouraging  women  participation  for  ensuring  long-term operation  &  maintenance  of  the  water  supply  infrastructure.  With  a  view  to  enable  the  local  village community to play their role in planning, implementation and to shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) has been launched in collaboration with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under Jal Jeevan Mission.

As a result  of  consistent  and  cumulative  efforts  including  community  participation,  the  data indicates that the overall ground water situation in the country is showing steady improvement. As per the  dynamic  ground  water  resource  assessment  data  of  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB),  total annual  ground  water  recharge  in  the  country  has  increased  from  432  BCM  (Billion  Cubic  Meters)  to 448.52 BCM between 2017 to 2025. State-wise comparative status of assessment units (in %) in Overexploited  (O),  Critical  (C)  and  Semi-critical  (S)  categories  as  per  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resources Assessments 2020 and 2025 is attached at Annexure .

***

ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4492 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 19.03.2026 REGARDING 'COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS'.

|    | S.No.State/Union Territories             | Ground Estimation   | Water -2020   | Resource           | Ground Estimation   | Water -2025   | Resource           |
|----|------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------|--------------------|
|    | S.No.State/Union Territories             | Over- exploited (%) | Critical (%)  | Semi- critical (%) | Over- exploited (%) | Critical (%)  | Semi- critical (%) |
| 1  | Andhra Pradesh                           | 3.45                | 2.25          | 6                  | 1.8                 | 0.4           | 3.5                |
| 2  | Arunachal Pradesh                        | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 3  | Assam                                    | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.41               |
| 4  | Bihar                                    | 1.31                | 0.94          | 9.55               | 0.56                | 2.24          | 9.16               |
| 5  | Chhattisgarh                             | 0.0                 | 6.16          | 18.49              | 0.0                 | 3.42          | 14.38              |
| 6  | Goa                                      | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 7  | Gujarat                                  | 10.08               | 1.61          | 9.68               | 9.92                | 1.19          | 12.30              |
| 8  | Haryana                                  | 60.28               | 8.51          | 9.93               | 63.64               | 4.20          | 10.49              |
| 9  | Himachal Pradesh                         | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 10 | Jharkhand                                | 1.16                | 0.77          | 3.86               | 2.28                | 1.90          | 4.56               |
| 11 | Karnataka                                | 22.91               | 4.41          | 15.42              | 18.99               | 4.64          | 15.19              |
| 12 | Kerala                                   | 0.0                 | 1.97          | 19.08              | 0.0                 | 1.32          | 17.76              |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh                           | 8.21                | 2.52          | 15.77              | 8.20                | 1.89          | 20.19              |
| 14 | Maharashtra                              | 0.0                 | 2.27          | 17.85              | 1.95                | 1.39          | 11.14              |
| 15 | Manipur                                  | 2.83                | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 16 | Meghalaya                                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 17 | Mizoram                                  | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 18 | Nagaland                                 | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 19 | Odisha                                   | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 1.91               | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 3.18               |
| 20 | Punjab                                   | 78                  | 4             | 6.67               | 72.55               | 6.54          | 9.80               |
| 21 | Rajasthan                                | 68.81               | 7.8           | 9.83               | 70.53               | 7.62          | 8.94               |
| 22 | Sikkim                                   | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu                               | 37.31               | 5.4           | 19.3               | 32.91               | 7.35          | 19.49              |
| 24 | Telangana                                | 7.47                | 7.47          | 30.56              | 3.71                | 3.06          | 16.94              |
| 25 | Tripura                                  | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh                            | 7.95                | 5.9           | 20.96              | 6.46                | 5.74          | 20.45              |
| 27 | Uttarakhand                              | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 22.22              | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 20                 |
| 28 | West Bengal                              | 0.0                 | 0.37          | 28.36              | 0.0                 | 2.61          | 9.86               |
| 29 | Andaman Nicobar                          | And 0.0             | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 30 | Chandigarh                               | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 100                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 31 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 50                  | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 32 | Delhi                                    | 50                  | 20.59         | 20.59              | 29.41               | 32.35         | 17.65              |
| 33 | Jammu And Kashmir                        | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                |
| 34 | Ladakh                                   | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 0.0                | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 5.56               |
| 35 | Lakshadweep                              | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 22.22              | 0.0                 | 0.0           | 20                 |
| 36 | Puducherry                               | 0.0                 | 25            | 0.0                | 12.50               | 0.0           | 37.50              |

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