Parliament Question: Status of Jal Shakti Abhiyan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 91 ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 STATUS OF JAL SHAKTI ABHIYAN 91. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the current status of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan including the number of districts and villages covered in Tamil Nadu since its launch; (b) the details of major outcomes and improvements recorded in water conservation, groundwater recharge and watershed management under the said Abhiyan in Tamil Nadu including Arani Lok Sabha Constituency; (c) whether the Government has identified any challenges or bottlenecks faced by States in implementing the said Abhiyan effectively and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps being taken to ensure community participation, transparency and sustainable water resource management under the said Abhiyan? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) & (b) Water is a State subject and the Central Government supplements the efforts of the States through technical and financial support. Water conservation is one of the foremost priorities of the Government. The Ministry of Jal Shakti implements Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019. JSA: CTR, with its sixth edition implemented in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country including the state of Tamil Nadu under the theme “Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or”, emphasizing community participation and water conservation awareness. The campaign emphasizes convergent financing and active community participation to ensure maximum impact. To achieve effective inter-sectoral convergence among Ministries for constructing artificial recharge structures, the Government has implemented a multi-pronged strategy that leverages collaboration, resource optimization and institutional coordination. Under the campaign, 4,47,997 Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting structures, 44,494 Renovation of traditional water bodies, 5,67,550 Reuse and Recharge structures, 3,46,537 Watershed Development structures are reported by State Government of Tamil Nadu which inter alia includes 17,962 Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting structures, 3,518 Renovation of traditional water bodies, 24,490 Reuse and Recharge structures, 12,324 Watershed Development structures in Arani Lok Sabha 1Constituency. Also, the State Government of Tamil Nadu reported that all the districts and 12480 Panchayats are covered under Jal Sakti Abhiyan since inception. (c) ‘Water’ being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including its conservation are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. The State Government of Tamil Nadu informed that it has successfully implemented Jal Sakti Abhiyan campaign in the state through inter-departmental coordination with various stake holder departments like water resources, rural development, agriculture and urban bodies. (d) ‘Water’ being a State subject, the responsibility for the conservation and management of water resources, including public awareness generation, primarily rests with the State Governments and local bodies. However, the Government of India has undertaken several initiatives including Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) across the country to sensitize the public about the importance of water conservation and to promote behavioural changes in water usage patterns. Awareness generation is one of the five focused interventions of JSA: CTR campaign which aims at spreading public awareness about water-related challenges and the importance of conservation, with an emphasis on turning water conservation into a people’s movement (Jan Andolan). As part of JSA: CTR, States and Union Territories have been requested to establish Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) in all districts. These Kendras function as resource and knowledge centers, providing information on water-related issues, showcasing best practices, offering technical support, and serving as local hubs for water conservation strategies. 712 Jal Shakti Kendras have been established across the country including 38 JSKs in Tamil Nadu. To further deepen public involvement, "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" (JSJB) initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat on 6th September 2024. This initiative encourages collective action by communities, civil society, and local governments to implement low-cost, locally appropriate water conservation solutions under a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. As part of this initiative, the National Water Mission (NWM) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with various agencies, organizes several community awareness programs to highlight the importance of water conservation. To further enhance outreach, the National Water Mission (NWM) collaborated with the Department of Youth Affairs, leveraging the extensive network of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and its youth clubs to mobilize grassroots participation in water conservation efforts under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign. ***** 2