Gujarat's Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan 2.0: A Month of Success in Water Conservation

In a robust drive reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to water conservation, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel unveiled the Catch the Rain-Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan 2.0 on April 4. Within a month, remarkable strides have been recorded as 1,300 projects have commenced out of the ambitious target of 10,523 initiatives. A press release from the Chief Minister's office highlights that 317 projects have reached completion. Leading the charge, Mehsana district has achieved the highest number of successful projects, tallying up to 416, followed by Banaskantha and Bharuch with 159 and 139 projects, respectively, among others.

The Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan 2.0 encompasses 36 diverse categories, with the deepening of ponds identified as the most active endeavor. Currently, 450 out of 1,859 targeted activities are ongoing, alongside the completion of four. In addition, significant effort is directed towards borewell recharge and check dam desilting, with 149 of 660 and 133 of 1,990 projects activated, respectively. The initiative envisions a total of 826 check dam repairs and encompasses broad-spectrum activities such as canal structure cleaning and rainwater harvesting, contributing to the holistic approach for water conservation.

Spearheaded by Gujarat's Water Resources Department, the ambitious agenda targets 5,734 water conservation projects, with 632 actively progressing. The Rural Development Department is not far behind, overseeing 2,244 targeted works with 478 in operation. Other departments, including the Water Supply, Panchayat and Rural Housing, and urban local bodies, echo this all-encompassing governmental pledge towards sustainable water management. Additionally, under the structured SSJA 2.0 framework, initiatives are categorized through MGNREGA, public participation, and departmental projects, fostering over 68,586 man-days of labor and illustrating significant public and governmental collaboration in ensuring water sustainability.

(With inputs from agencies.)