Parliament Question: Status of Jal Shakti Abhiyan in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 806 ANSWERED ON 23.07.2026 STATUS OF JAL SHAKTI ABHIYAN IN TAMIL NADU 806. Shri THARANIVENTHAN M S: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the present status of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) including the number of districts and villages covered in Tamil Nadu since its launch; (b) the major outcomes and improvements achieved 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 effective implementation of the said abhiyan and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps being taken to ensure community participation, transparency and sustainable water resources 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 launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 as a time-bound, mission- mode water conservation campaign in 256 water stressed districts of the country. The Hon'ble PM of India launched the campaign in 2021 as Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) with the message, "Catch the Rain: Where It Falls, When It Falls." Since then, JSA: CTR evolved into a national movement, reinforcing India's collective commitment to water security through localised action and institutional convergence. The JSA: CTR campaign was implemented nationwide in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country including the state of Tamil Nadu and each edition had included a targeted focus since 2023 to maximize impact. To further deepen public involvement, "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" (JSJB) initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat on 6th September 2024. In June 2025, JSJB 2.0 was launched. The implementation cycle for JSJB 2.0 commenced on 1 June 2025 and concluded on 31 May 2026. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain (JSJB: CTR) – 2026 was launched on 1st June 2026 enhancing the scope of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative and simultaneously integrating it with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign. 1Under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, 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 the 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 Constituency. Also, the State Government of Tamil Nadu reported that all the districts and 12,480 Panchayats are covered under Jal Shakti 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 Shakti Abhiyan campaign in the state through inter-departmental coordination with various stakeholder 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 undertook 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 behavioral changes in water usage patterns. Awareness generation is one of the five focused interventions of JSA: CTR campaign which aimed 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 were 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. The JSJB 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