Q.What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?
Model Answer
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The Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) is a time-bound, mission-mode campaign launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, to promote water conservation and secure water security across the country. Envisioned as a Jan Andolan (mass movement), the campaign brings together diverse stakeholders—including central and state governments, local bodies, civil society, and local communities—with a primary focus on water-stressed blocks and districts.
Body
Context: Water Scarcity in India
- Resource Disproportion: India supports nearly 17.7% of the global population but has access to only 4% of the world's usable freshwater resources.
- Severe Crisis: According to the NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index report (June 2019), India is facing its worst-ever water crisis. Approximately 600 million people experience high-to-extreme water stress.
- Depleting Groundwater: The report warned that several major Indian cities were at risk of running out of groundwater, and nearly 40% of the population could lose access to safe drinking water by 2030, potentially causing a 6% loss in India's GDP by 2050.
Salient Features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan
- Targeted Focus: The campaign specifically targets water-stressed districts and blocks across India to implement immediate water-saving measures.
- Inter-Ministerial Collaboration: It operates through a coordinated, collaborative effort involving various central ministries, state governments, and district administrations.
- Central Coordination: Teams of central government officers, including hydrogeologists and technical experts, visit and work directly with district administrations in water-stressed blocks to monitor and guide local water conservation interventions.
- Community Mobilization: It emphasizes public participation, encouraging schools, colleges, self-help groups, and local citizens to lead water-saving initiatives.
Five Key Water Conservation Interventions
- Water Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting: Constructing and maintaining rainwater harvesting structures in public buildings, residential areas, and agricultural fields.
- Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies: Desilting, restoring, and rejuvenating traditional water bodies, ponds, stepwells (baolis), and temple tanks.
- Reuse and Recharge of Structures: Setting up greywater management systems and constructing recharge shafts and borewells to replenish depleted aquifers.
- Watershed Development: Implementing ridge-to-valley treatments, building check dams, contour trenches, and farm ponds to slow down runoff and improve soil moisture retention.
- Intensive Afforestation: Conducting large-scale tree plantation drives along riverbanks, hill slopes, and barren lands to naturally enhance groundwater recharge and prevent soil erosion.
Special Interventions
- Block and District Water Conservation Plans: Developing scientific, data-driven water conservation plans for every water-stressed block.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendra Melas: Organizing farmer fairs to promote water-efficient irrigation techniques (like drip and sprinkler irrigation) and encouraging the cultivation of less water-intensive crops.
- Urban Wastewater Reuse: Formulating guidelines for the mandatory reuse of treated urban wastewater for industrial and non-potable purposes.
Conclusion
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan represents a critical shift toward decentralized, community-led water management in India. By focusing on rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, and traditional water body restoration, the campaign lays a strong foundation for long-term water security. To sustain these gains, water conservation must be integrated into local developmental planning, backed by strict regulations against groundwater overexploitation.