Water Conservation Efforts by Gram Panchayats Praiseworthy : Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur : Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released a booklet based on the ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ (My Village, My Water) mega campaign at his office in the Vidhan Sabha premises. Speaking on the occasion, he said the special campaign, launched on Panchayati Raj Diwas, has triggered an unprecedented awareness around water conservation and preservation. The release event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Principal Secretary of Panchayat Mrs. Niharika Barik, Commissioner MNREGA and Director PMAY Mr. Taran Prakash Sinha, and several other senior officials. CM Sai remarked that the active involvement of gram panchayats and voluntary public participation has transformed this campaign into a mass movement. Citizens are willingly taking part in the noble cause of water conservation, signaling a clear shift in social consciousness. He said the booklet documents notable initiatives and innovations undertaken by panchayats across the state, which will serve as an inspiration for others.
The Chief Minister added that the campaign placed special emphasis on Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to promote water literacy. In over 11,000 gram panchayat buildings, groundwater levels have been marked on walls, resulting in a practical awakening among people about the importance of water. He emphasized that gram panchayats have played a crucial role in connecting water conservation with public participation, and this awareness is expected to grow even more significantly in the coming years.
It is noteworthy that under the ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ campaign, rallies and wall writings have been employed to sensitise and educate the public on water conservation. Through trainings conducted in 626 clusters, more than 56,000 participants have been trained in water management and conservation techniques.
The campaign is also leveraging GIS technology to ensure effective planning of water conservation works. Additionally, the Jaldoot app is being used to measure water levels in open wells. Structural interventions like percolation tanks, earthen dams, and defunct borewell recharge structures are also being built to create long-term water recharge systems. These consistent efforts by gram panchayats aim to establish Chhattisgarh as a national model in the field of water conservation.
