RAIPUR: In a significant achievement in decentralised environmental action, Chhattisgarh has taken the lead as the best performing state in rainwater harvesting and groundwater replenishment under the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s flagship ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ (JSJB) and ‘Catch the Rain’ campaigns, officials said.
Presenting the state's model at the national summit held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai highlighted how grassroots participation has transformed conventional water conservation into a vibrant mass movement.
At the summit, the Chief Minister presented Chhattisgarh’s public participation-driven water conservation model and proposed four measures to conserve every drop of rainwater across the country: state-specific ‘Catch the Rain’ plans, ‘State Water Awards’ to recognise high-performing states, mapping of water structures through BISAG-N, and quarterly reviews chaired by the Chief Secretary.
The statewide momentum is reflected in district-level achievements, with five Chhattisgarh districts—Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara, and Kabirdham breaking into India’s national Top 10.
Reflecting on his roots as an agrarian native of Bagiya village in Jashpur district, CM Sai noted that water security is the lifeline of rural livelihoods. Despite accounting for roughly four percent of India's total land area, the state has achieved an outsized impact by putting local farmers, village panchayats, and women-led networks at the centre of the mission, state government officials said.
At the heart of Chhattisgarh’s strategy is a community-driven initiative originating in Koriya district known as the ‘5 Per Cent Model’. Under this voluntary framework, farmers dedicate 5% of their agricultural land exclusively to groundwater recharge infrastructure.
The state’s approach focuses on convergence among various schemes and departments, regular reviews, geo-tagging of water conservation structures and, above all, community participation. Key stakeholders include 'Jal Sakhis', 'Jal Mitras', farmers, panchayats, and local communities.
CM Sai added that Chhattisgarh is ready to share its successful water conservation practices with other states across the country.
Chhattisgarh has maintained a strong performance across all three phases of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ (JSJB) campaign. Under JSJB 1.0, the state created 4,05,561 water conservation structures, securing the second position nationally. In the second phase, JSJB 2.0, work was initiated on 24,07,456 structures, of which 23,07,768 were completed, again placing Chhattisgarh second in the country, officials elucidated.
When rainwater is retained in fields and villages, improved groundwater levels can increase water availability for irrigation and support crop production.
