Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given another big responsibility to Haryana. This time PM Modi has to launch the sixth edition of Jal Shakti Abhiyan-Catch the Rain 2025 at the national level. In view of the success of nationwide programs by Haryana in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister has entrusted the responsibility of organizing this big campaign to Chief Minister Saini.
The sixth edition of Jal Shakti Abhiyan-Catch the Rain will be launched at the national level on 22 March 2025 from Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula. Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri CR Patil will be the chief guest at this program. Chief Minister Naib Singh and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Chaudhary will be specially present.
Started in 2019
Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched in 2019 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The objective of this national campaign is based on important efforts like water conservation, revival of ponds and water sources, reuse of monsoon water, revival of extinct rivers.
Haryana Pond Authority has been formed under the leadership of Chief Minister Saini, which is motivating people to treat the water of ancient ponds and use it for irrigation and other purposes. This program is also a part of this series.
Haryana fixes target of 500 villages
The Chief Minister has expressed concern over the falling groundwater level. In a meeting held in January regarding this, the CM has set a target of recharging the groundwater of 500 villages for the first phase. Along with this, a time has also been fixed to complete it.
The Prime Minister has also expressed concern over the falling groundwater level. The Prime Minister has said that the decrease in groundwater is the biggest challenge for the country and we all have to work together to deal with this challenge.
Work is being done on connecting rivers
CM Saini has also given instructions to explore the possibilities of using the Hansi-Butana link canal for water storage. The CM has given instructions to do comprehensive water management in the state through water audit. The Chief Minister has instructed the officials to prepare a road map to connect the rivers passing through the state. This will help in avoiding the damage caused by floods during the rainy season and raising the low groundwater level.
Why did Haryana get this task?
The groundwater level in Haryana has been continuously falling for the past several years. The Haryana government as well as the central government are very concerned about this. The opposition parties are also cornering the government for not balancing the groundwater level.
In the budget session of the Assembly, the opposition MLAs have tried to corner the government on this issue. There has been a tremendous decline in the groundwater level of Haryana in 10 years. So far it has gone down by 5.41 meters. This is the reason that 107 blocks of the state have reached the category of dark zone.
The government is making these 4 efforts..
1. Atal Bhujal Yojana implemented, Haryana government’s efforts to increase the water level: Haryana government has prepared an action plan to stop the falling groundwater level and excessive water exploitation. Efforts will be made to stop the falling groundwater level and increase the water level by implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in 1647 Gram Panchayats of 14 districts of the state.
2. Giving subsidy for direct sowing of paddy
The state government has prepared an option of direct sowing instead of traditional transplantation of paddy. The government will give Rs 4,500 per acre to the farmer for direct sowing of paddy. Whereas farmers who do not sow paddy will be given subsidy at the rate of double i.e. 8 thousand per acre.
3. Improvement in waterlogging area in 13 districts
Waterlogging area has been reclaimed through sub-surface vertical drainage technology in 13 districts of Haryana, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sirsa, Palwal and Nuh. These include 25490 acres of land in the year 2022-23, 78155 acres in 2023-24 and 53167 acres of land in 2024-25.
4. Focus on other crops instead of paddy
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has started a crop diversification program to conserve natural groundwater resources. Instead of water-intensive paddy crop, alternative crops of maize, sunflower, cotton, vegetables, millet and summer moong are being promoted.
11 MLAs raised this issue in the assembly
The state’s Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Chaudhary has also answered the questions raised by 11 MLAs on the falling groundwater level in the House. A campaign to free the land from waterlogging was started from 2018-19 using vertical drainage technology, which has improved the groundwater quality. During this period, the problem of waterlogging has been resolved from 26 thousand 110 acres of land by spending Rs 108 crore.
