‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’

 

(Water Ganga Promotion Campaign) underway in State, inspired by PM Narendra Modi’s call for water conservation, is rapidly transforming into a mass movement. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his delight, stating that the public’s enthusiasm for water conservation in the State is continuously growing. The revival of wells, stepwells, and ponds is raising hopes for the improvement of groundwater levels. CM Yadav had launched this state-wide campaign on March 30, from Ramghat on the banks of the Maa Kshipra River in Ujjain. He emphasised that the overwhelming public participation in water conservation clearly indicates that State is at the forefront of PM Modi’s mission of ‘water conservation through public co-operation’. The State Government is actively pursuing water conservation based on the principle of water from the field stays in the field, water from the village stays in the village. To make this a success, the ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’ is specifically emphasising rainwater harvesting, the rejuvenation of old water sources, and the adoption of water conservation techniques.

 

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this campaign will play a significant role in raising awareness about water conservation. He has directed all relevant departments to prioritise water conservation-related schemes and connect more and more people with the campaign. The campaign is witnessing enthusiastic public support for its various objectives, including water conservation, restoration of water sources, improvement of groundwater levels, renovation of old wells and stepwells, cleaning of water sources, tree plantation, and the conservation of small rivers and ponds. A tangible example of this is the collective cleaning of Chintaman Bawdi, Gothda Bawdi, Ranawad Bawdi, and Bamora Bawdi by the Ujjain Janpad Panchayat team, along with Ujjain Zilla Panchayat CEO Jayati Singh, through public co-operation. In Indore district, religious leaders are also joining the ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’ to spread awareness about the importance of water conservation to the masses. Through their sermons, they are emphasising the significance of water.

 

Inspired by them, citizens are volunteering their labour to restore stepwells, wells, and ponds. In Barlai Jagir village of Indore district, Guru Anandacharya of Charbhuja Nath Temple Sanwer, along with the young disciples of the ashram, performed prayers and rituals at a stepwell. Water was also worshipped with chanting. He explained the importance of water to the gathered people, stating that every drop of water is life-giving and holds a special place in our religious beliefs. Therefore, everyone should work together to conserve water. Following Anandacharya’s call, devotees volunteered their labour for the cleaning of the stepwell in Barlai Jagir. He stated that the “Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan” is an important initiative to ensure the abundant availability of water in the state and water security for future generations.

 

The State Jan Abhiyan Parishad, with the co-operation of college students, has initiated a series of voluntary labour drives to clean the most significant water structure in Sidhi, Gopal Das Talab, by removing silt. This effort is continuously being extended to the cleaning of various other water structures. Simultaneously, to raise public awareness about water conservation, Chaupal (village meeting) discussions, wall writings, and literary competitions such as essay and poetry writing are also being organised. The Navankur Sanstha Jan-Chetna Gram Vikas Samiti conducted a cleanliness drive through voluntary labour in the Tirchuli River of Nadaha, an ideal village in Sidhi district. The public contributed by cleaning and deepening the area around the village hand pumps and the reservoir. In Sheopur, as part of the ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’, the Navankur Sanstha of the Jan Abhiyan Parishad, with the support of social workers and voluntary organisations, carried out voluntary labour for cleaning the Girraj Ghat on the Seep River.

 

This marked the beginning of efforts to clean the river. In Seoni district, various programs for the conservation and rejuvenation of rivers, wells, ponds, stepwells, and other water structures in rural areas are being organised under the ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’. Additionally, activities like awareness rallies and wall writings are being conducted to connect the general public with this campaign.