Chhattisgarh's 5% Water Conservation Model

Chhattisgarh Water Conservation Initiatives

1. Policies and Models:

• 5% Model:
  • Launched in Korea district promoting groundwater recharge through community engagement.
  • Involves dedicating 5% of agricultural land for soak pits.
  • Resulted in the construction of approximately 30,000 soak pits in 2025, a 15-fold increase from the previous year.
• 30-40 Model:
  • Involves 30 feet by 40 feet trenches dug on barren land for rainwater storage.

2. Government Schemes:

• Initiatives under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), now called Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin).
• Campaign branded as Aawa Paani Jhonki (Let’s catch the rain).

3. Groundwater Statistics:

• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) data shows improvement in groundwater levels:
  • Post-monsoon level rose from 6.6 meters below ground level (BGL) in 2024 to 3.89 meters BGL in 2025.

4. Community Participation:

• Notable engagement with local practices leading to a notable decrease in complaints about drying borewells.
• Villagers are experiencing direct benefits, leading to sustained participation in water conservation practices.

5. Challenges:

• Ongoing issues with summer water scarcity reported for the past five to six years.
• Limited effectiveness of the Jal Jeevan Mission in certain areas due to insufficient groundwater levels despite infrastructure developments (like pipelines and water tanks).

6. Administrative Actions:

• Intensive interventions made in two villages identified as model water conservation centres.
• Continuous efforts are being made to deepen and desilt village ponds to enhance storage capacity.

7. Geographical Context:

• Korea district is identified as a recharge zone facing declining groundwater levels which necessitated the introduction of these conservation initiatives.

8. Future Plans:

• Emphasis on making water conservation a community practice and ensuring that more villagers adopt these models for sustainable water management.

This strategic approach not only addresses immediate water scarcity issues but also sets a precedent for potential national policy adoption, as highlighted by the recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials.