National Water Mission held the workshop for Central Nodal Officers and Technical Officers visiting 150 water-stressed districts across the nation.
WD News: The National Water Mission (NWM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR), Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a workshop- cum- orientation programme at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi for Central Nodal Officers (CNO) and Technical Officers (TO), who will be visiting the 150 water-stressed districts across the nation, for ensuring effective and action-oriented implementation of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2023 (JSA: CTR).
A central team consisting of CNO and TO will make two visits to the allotted districts pre-monsoon and post-monsoon and the workshop was held to highlight the roles and responsibilities and provide a mission and vision to the visiting officials. The 2023 campaign is being implemented from 4th March 2023 to 30th November 2023 in all the districts (rural as well as urban areas) of the country with the theme Source Sustainability for Drinking Water.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, chaired the workshop. Addressing the gathering, he stated that “Inspired by the Prime Minister’s mantra of Jal Sanchay, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in 2019 to make “Jal Andolan” a “Jan Andolan”. He said that the Hon’ble Prime Minister wrote to Sarpanches of 2.6 lakh villages to organise Special Gram Sabhas on water conservation and the importance of water. The Union Minister further mentioned that JSA: CTR- 2023 is fourth in the series of Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched since 2019. He asserted that a campaign can become successful only through community participation, especially at the grass root level and urged the CNOs and TOs to actively participate in the campaign and act as catalysts and facilitators to encourage and energise the district authorities for the successful implementation of the campaign.
Shri Bishweswar Tudu, Minister of State, Tribal Affairs, and Ministry of Jal Shakti, highlighted the importance of water in day-to-day life. He stressed the need for water conservation. He stated that many rivers in our country have dried up. It’s important to get these rivers rejuvenated especially in water-stressed district areas, he said.
Ms. Vini Mahajan, The Secretary, Dept. of Drinking Water and Sanitation, highlighted the importance of source sustainability. She stated that over 66 percent of households is dependent on groundwater for drinking water. The Central Nodal Officers selected for 150 water-stressed districts will play a critical role in ensuring the fulfilment of objectives of theme for source sustainability for drinking water to ensure taps get water, she said.
Shri Pankaj Kumar, Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, encouraged the central team to act as facilitators and links between the central government and the states. He requested to encourage shramdan and work toward community involvement. He further requested central teams to inform about the problems faced during the implementation of campaign by state authorities and also highlight best practices taken up by states.
Shri Sriram Vedire, Advisor to Minister of Jal Shakti, explained the GIS-based scientific water conservation plan and inventorisation of water bodies for JSA: CTR-2023, one of the campaign’s focused interventions. He mentioned that it is important to upload the data on JSA app, use scientific approach GIS/ RS technologies, identification of water bodies to be GIS mapped, geo-tagging of existing inventory of WHS, and preparation of GIS-based water conservation plans. He requested central team to encourage the use of mobile apps designed for Jal Shakti Abhiyan and to request district authorities to upload the data on JSA portal.
A joint presentation was held by AS&MD, NWM and AS & MD, JJM highlighting CNOs’ and TOs’ crucial role in successfully implementing the JSA:CTR- 2023.
Ms. Archana Varma, AS & MD, National Water Mission (NWM), mentioned that all the activities under JSA: CTR-2023 have to be undertaken apart from the central theme which is – community participation, Amrit Sarovar 75 in each district, spring shed for hilly districts and north-eastern states, protecting the catchment area, afforestation, awareness generation through NYKS, geotagging, and district scientific plans, setting up of Jal Shakti Kendra in each district, alongwith promotion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Jal Shapath, Intensive IEC Activities, Mission LiFE, Jal Shakti Se Nari Shakti, etc.
Shri Vikas Sheel, AS & MD, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), mentioned that 150 districts identification of sources has been done by JJM based on the history of water tanker use, classification of blocks by CGWB as exploited, critical, stressed with the approach – footprint in all states. He further mentioned that SOPs have been circulated to all the states and UTs. He added that JJM will facilitate the appointment of Jal Shakti Fellows at district level. He also mentioned that the monitoring indicators for JJM would be number of recharge structures constructed and strengthened, number of springs rejuvenated/revived, percentage of sources and recharge structures geotagged, and percentage of sources with adequate arrangements of source protection.
Joint Secretary, MoRD highlighted the importance of the role of CNOs and TOs in Mission Amrit Sarovar. He mentioned that under Mission Amrit Sarovar- 75 water bodies rejuvenated or developed in districts as part of AKAM in a minimum 1-acre area. He requested the CNOs to monitor the checklist – like flag hoisting on 15th August and requested them to consider the technical aspect, like inlet-outlet, discharge and functional. He also requested the CNOs to specifically monitor the role of the Water Users Association.
Source & image courtesy: PIB
MoJS this initiative under JJM for conservation of water at village level is being lauded and appreciated for ensuring water locally.
But this is not enough. Apart from this, irrigation efficiency enhancement is equally important in the present context. NWM should expedite this work in all major and medium projects.
Day to day regular maintenance of large and medium projects is also required to be taken up.