Jal Shakti ministry urges states to revive rainwater harvesting

The Jal Shakti ministry has urged states to revive rainwater harvesting as a means to recharge groundwater reserves which are fast depleting. Also, in a recent meeting, the Jal Shakti Ministry has asked the states to augment the existing tap connections.

New Delhi: As a measure to raise the groundwater table with this monsoon, the Union Jal Shakti ministry is directing the governments to engage in rainwater harvesting works. According to the top sources with the ministry, they have sent directions to the states asking them to revive the rainwater harvesting methods.

“We have been taking this matter with the states since the onset of monsoon this year. We are relying upon groundwater for our 65% of water needs in the country. However, there is a depletion has been occurring in the groundwater level. It is very essential to practise methods for groundwater recharge. So, the ministry had asked the states to encourage households, government buildings, communities and individuals to involve in rainwater harvesting,” the officer said.

It is noted many states have already implemented the rainwater harvesting mission before a decade. However, the Jal Shakti ministry had observed many of them are not in proper condition.

Read:Jal Shakti Ministry wants states to retrofit old tap lines for JJM, many yet to explore

“Augmenting the existing rainwater harvesting facilities and digging new pits for water conservation will also produce the best results. We are also looking to take this matter with Panchayat Raj Ministry to ensure rainwater harvesting methods in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY- Urban and Gramin) housing schemes,” he noted.

The ministry has found had found that 79 districts have poor groundwater level.

Recently, UP Singh, Secretary to the Ministry, while addressing water talk seminar, he urged the citizens to take up the rainwater harvesting process in their households.

Also, in a recent meeting, the Jal Shakti Ministry has asked the states to augment the existing tap connections in order to give tap water connection to households. The move is aimed at implementing the 50% target of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to give tap water connection to households.

The JJM aims to provide safe drinking water of 55 Litre Per Capita Per Day (LPCD) to all the households with Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC).