JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir said it has made significant progress in water conservation under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan-Catch the Rain (JSA-CTR), with over 16,000 water conservation projects completed, thousands of water bodies restored, and extensive afforestation efforts undertaken. Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, highlighted these achievements while briefing a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday, a DIPR statement said.
Kabra informed the meeting that under the water conservation and rainwater harvesting initiatives, 16,002 projects have been completed, with Kupwara, Rajouri, and Poonch recording the highest numbers. He added that 6,622 water bodies have been restored under the renovation of the water bodies programme, with major contributions from Shopian and Pulwama. He said that to enhance groundwater recharge, 9,369 structures have been developed across the districts, significantly improving water levels in the region.
The meeting was told that to prevent soil erosion and enhance water retention, 54,446 watershed development projects have been executed, with the highest numbers recorded in Kupwara, Rajouri, and Poonch. Kabra further informed that afforestation had also been prioritised, with 37,362 activities conducted to improve green cover, particularly in Rajouri and Ramban. He said that the key focus areas for JSA-CTR 2024 and 2025 include geo-tagging and inventorying all water bodies, desilting and cleaning of water bodies, rejuvenation of small rivers, and expansion of Jal Shakti Kendras across Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the 2025 theme, “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari–Jan Jagrukta Ki Or,” will emphasise participatory water conservation efforts, with a focus on community participation and corporate social responsibility fund utilisation. A special collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is also planned for spring mapping and protection of catchment areas across major river basins like Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo directed Deputy Commissioners to place special emphasis on district water conservation plans and ensure their implementation aligns with schemes such as MGNREGA, CAMPA, and Capex. He stressed the need for GIS mapping of these plans to ensure systematic execution. Recognising the growing water crisis, he urged officials to geo-tag all water supply sources and ensure that at least five groundwater recharge structures are developed in every village. He also called for the saturation of government schools and Anganwadi centres with rainwater harvesting structures under the JSA-Catch the Rain initiative. He further emphasised that all newly constructed buildings must incorporate rainwater harvesting mechanisms to promote sustainability.
Dulloo instructed officials to raise public awareness and encourage participation by organising ‘Jal Shapath’ ceremonies in every Panchayat on March 22 to mark World Water Day. He also directed that a special cleanliness drive for water bodies be conducted from May 1 to 7 in alignment with JSA objectives. Additionally, he sought details on water conservation activities carried out in previous years and asked officials to prepare a concept note outlining the goals for 2025, including financial planning through convergence mode.
The Chief Secretary said that with these efforts, Jammu and Kashmir is poised to strengthen its water conservation framework, improve groundwater levels, and enhance public participation in preserving water resources across the region.
