**Executive Summary**
This report details the successful transformation of Murugummi, Marella, and Thangella villages in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh into models of water resilience. Under the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign, community-led rainwater conservation has mitigated acute water scarcity and improved groundwater levels. The document highlights key achievements in storage capacity and agricultural support, noting national recognition received by these villages in 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Community Mobilization and Awareness**
* Engagement of farmers, women, and youth through Gram Sabhas, workshops, and door-to-door awareness campaigns.
* Collective adoption of sustainable practices, including water budgeting, crop planning, and groundwater sharing.
* Promotion of community ownership to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources.
**Technical Interventions**
* Adoption of a "ridge-to-valley" approach to capture and store rainwater.
* Construction of diverse infrastructure, including percolation tanks, farm ponds, staggered trenches, and rooftop harvesting systems.
* Rejuvenation and revival of traditional community ponds and existing water bodies.
**Village-Specific Achievements**
* **Murugummi:** Constructed 71 structures with 8.11 lakh cubic metres of storage, providing protective irrigation to 264.5 hectares.
* **Marella:** Developed 53 structures with 10.04 lakh cubic metres of storage, plus 5.95 lakh cubic metres through pond renovations, supporting 220.5 hectares.
* **Thangella:** Constructed 71 structures and revived traditional bodies to create a combined storage capacity of approximately 9.87 lakh cubic metres for 185.3 hectares.
**National Recognition**
* Murugummi awarded Second-Best Village Panchayat at the 6th National Water Awards, 2024.
* Marella ranked among the top 30 villages, and Thangella nominated for national recognition.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farming Households**
**Impact**
Farmers have benefited from enhanced agricultural productivity, restored soil moisture, and access to protective irrigation, which has strengthened their primary livelihoods.
**Action Required**
Farmers should continue practicing collective water budgeting and crop planning to sustain the increased agricultural yields.
**Rural Families and Dairy Workers**
**Impact**
Improved water availability has boosted milk production, providing a vital source of supplementary income for rural families.
**Action Required**
Families should leverage the improved water security to further develop dairy and livestock activities.
**The Local Community (General Residents)**
**Impact**
Approximately 5,900 people now enjoy better access to groundwater for domestic use, leading to a significant reduction in distress migration from the region.
**Action Required**
Residents must maintain active participation in local water governance and community-led maintenance of harvesting structures.
**Local Institutions and Gram Panchayats**
**Impact**
Local governance bodies have gained national prestige and a replicable model for sustainable water management.
**Action Required**
Panchayats must continue to foster community ownership and ensure the upkeep of the newly constructed water conservation infrastructure.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign: A community-led rainwater conservation initiative focused on enhancing water resilience, groundwater levels, and rural livelihoods through active public participation.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The central ministry responsible for implementing and overseeing water conservation programs and the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative.
Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh: The central region encompassing model villages like Murugummi and Marella that successfully implemented large-scale water harvesting and recharge measures.
National Water Awards: A government recognition program that awarded villages in Prakasam district for their excellence in community-led water conservation and management.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Community-Led Rainwater Conservation
Transforms Villages in Prakasam District, Andhra
Pradesh
Posted On: 09 APR 2026 3:06PM by PIB Delhi
Villages such as Murugummi, Marella, and Thangella in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh have
emerged as models of water resilience through community-led rainwater conservation initiatives
implemented under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of
India. The initiative has significantly improved groundwater availability, strengthened livelihoods, and
reduced distress migration in the region.
Earlier, these villages faced acute water scarcity due to erratic rainfall, declining groundwater levels, and
frequent borewell failures, adversely affecting agriculture and livelihoods. The situation began to change
with active community mobilisation through Gram Sabhas, door-to-door awareness campaigns,
Kalajathas, workshops, and field demonstrations. Farmers, women, youth, and local institutions
collectively adopted practices such as water budgeting, crop planning, and groundwater sharing, fostering
a strong sense of ownership.
Adopting a ridge-to-valley approach, the villages implemented a range of rainwater harvesting and
conservation measures to capture, store, and recharge rainwater. Key interventions include percolation
tanks, farm ponds, staggered trenches, rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, and the rejuvenation of
community ponds.
Key Achievements
Murugummi: Construction of 71 water conservation structures with a cumulative storage capacity
of approximately 8.11 lakh cubic metres, providing protective irrigation to 264.5 hectares of
agricultural land.
Marella: Development of 53 water conservation structures with a cumulative storage capacity of
about 10.04 lakh cubic metres, enhancing agricultural sustainability across 220.5 hectares.
Additionally, the renovation of community ponds and tanks contributed nearly 5.95 lakh cubic
metres of additional storage capacity.
Thangella: Construction of 71 water conservation structures with a cumulative storage capacity of
around 5.89 lakh cubic metres, providing irrigation support to 185.3 hectares. The revival of
traditional water bodies further augmented storage capacity by approximately 3.98 lakh cubic
metres.
Impact
Improved Groundwater Levels: Benefiting approximately 5,900 people by enhancing access to
water for domestic and agricultural purposes.
Enhanced Agricultural Productivity: Expansion of protective irrigation has strengthened
livelihoods for a majority of farming households.Increase in Milk Production: Improved water availability has supported dairy activities, providing
supplementary income to rural families.
Restoration of Soil Moisture: Enhanced land health has enabled more stable and resilient cropping
patterns.
Reduction in Distress Migration: Improved livelihood opportunities have enabled families to
sustain themselves locally.
Recognition
Murugummi village was conferred the Second-Best Village Panchayat Award at the 6th National Water
Awards, 2024, while Marella was selected among the top 30 villages and Thangella was nominated for
national recognition, underscoring the effectiveness of community-led water conservation efforts.
Conclusion
The transformation of these villages demonstrates the effectiveness of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari
approach in fostering community ownership of water resources. The initiative highlights a replicable
model for sustainable water management and reinforces the importance of people’s participation in
achieving long-term water security.***
ND
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