**Executive Summary**
Raipur has emerged as a model for urban groundwater recharge under the *Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari* (JSJB) initiative, successfully implementing 32,000 rainwater harvesting structures during 2025. The project addresses declining water tables and monsoon waterlogging through a collaborative framework involving the municipal corporation, private developers, and citizens. Key objectives include the transition to a "Sponge City" model and the institutionalization of policy reforms to ensure long-term urban water security.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Infrastructure and Technical Innovation**
* **Mass Implementation:** Nearly 32,000 structures were created in 2025, including recharge wells, percolation pits, injection wells, and rooftop harvesting systems.
* **Recharge Capacity:** Individual recharge wells can replenish up to three lakh litres annually, while injection wells in stressed zones can recharge up to fifteen lakh litres.
* **Permeable Eco Blocks:** Implementation of eco-friendly blocks on footpaths and parking areas to facilitate natural recharge and reduce waterlogging.
* **Advanced Drilling:** Use of tractor-mounted auger drilling and multilayer filtration systems for rapid, cost-effective construction.
**Policy and Governance Reforms**
* **Land Use Requirements:** New town and country planning provisions encourage developers to reserve at least 1% of planned areas for water harvesting and green spaces.
* **Maintenance Protocols:** The city has institutionalized regular maintenance and desilting mechanisms for all recharge systems.
* **Circular Water Management:** Promotion of treated wastewater reuse for industrial and infrastructure purposes to reduce fresh groundwater reliance.
**Strategic Resilience Projects**
* **Sponge City Model:** An integrated ₹30 crore Eco Bloc project is being implemented across the Kharun River to conserve rainwater at scale.
* **Water Body Interconnection:** A program to interconnect ponds and lakes is underway to optimize urban water storage and distribution.
**Impact Analysis**
**Raipur Municipal Corporation and Government Institutions**
* **Impact:** Shifted from traditional engineering-led governance to a participatory civic mission; improved disaster management capabilities regarding urban flooding.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the ₹30 crore Kharun River project and manage the institutionalized maintenance schedules for the new infrastructure.
**Builders and Developers (CREDAI)**
* **Impact:** Integration of water conservation is now a core requirement for residential and commercial projects.
* **Action Required:** Must comply with town planning provisions by reserving 1% of project areas for harvesting and green spaces.
**Citizens and Residents**
* **Impact:** Empowered as active stakeholders in urban water security through the adoption of rooftop harvesting.
* **Action Required:** Maintain individual rooftop systems and adopt rainwater conservation as a shared civic responsibility.
**Industrial Sector**
* **Impact:** Potential shift in water sourcing for industrial operations.
* **Action Required:** Transition toward utilizing treated wastewater for industrial and infrastructure needs as part of the circular water management strategy.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB): A nationwide water conservation initiative focused on urban groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting through large-scale public participation and institutional collaboration.
Raipur, Chhattisgarh: The primary location identified as a national model for urban groundwater recharge, aiming to develop into a 'Sponge City'.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The central government ministry overseeing the nationwide water security initiatives and the implementation of the JSJB campaign.
Raipur Municipal Corporation: The local administrative body responsible for leading the planning and execution of the extensive rainwater harvesting campaign in Raipur.
CREDAI: The association of builders and developers that collaborated with the local government to integrate rainwater harvesting systems into residential and commercial urban infrastructure.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Raipur’s Rainwater Revolution: How Community
Participation is Strengthening Urban Water
Security in Chhattisgarh
32,000 Rainwater Harvesting Structures Created Under Jal
Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Make Raipur a Model for Urban
Groundwater Recharge
Posted On: 29 MAY 2026 5:47PM by PIB Delhi
Under the nationwide Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, Raipur has emerged as a notable
model of urban groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting through large-scale public participation
and institutional collaboration.
Once marked by recurring waterlogging during monsoon and steadily declining groundwater levels, the
city is now demonstrating how scientific planning, community engagement and innovative low-cost
solutions can transform urban water conservation.
Despite receiving nearly 1200–1400 mm of annual rainfall annually, Raipur had been facing a growing
water management challenge. Rapid urbanisation, increasing concretisation and excessive groundwater
extraction had led to declining water tables in several areas, even as substantial rainwater runoff was lost
through drains during monsoon.
Recognising this challenge, the Raipur Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with technical experts,
builders, institutions and citizens, launched an extensive rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge
campaign under JSJB.
The initiative has delivered significant results. During 2025 alone, nearly 32,000 rainwaters harvesting
and groundwater recharge structures were created across the city. These include recharge wells,
percolation pits, injection wells, recharge shafts, rooftop harvesting systems and stormwater recharge
structures.
A key strength of Raipur’s approach has been strong public-private collaboration. Builders and developers
associated with CREDAI integrated rainwater harvesting systems across residential colonies, commercial
complexes, institutional campuses and public spaces, while citizens increasingly adopted rainwaterconservation as a shared civic responsibility.
The city has also adopted innovative and cost-effective technical interventions suited to local
hydrogeological conditions. Permeable Eco Blocks are being promoted across footpaths, parking areas
and open spaces to facilitate natural groundwater recharge while reducing urban waterlogging.
In another innovative intervention, tractor-mounted auger drilling technology combined with multilayer
filtration systems and slotted recharge pipes has enabled rapid and cost-effective construction of recharge
structures across multiple locations.
These interventions have created substantial recharge potential. Recharge wells can replenish up to three
lakh litres annually, while injection well systems in groundwater-stressed zones can recharge up to fifteen
lakh litres every year.
Importantly, Raipur’s efforts extend beyond infrastructure creation to long-term policy reform. Under
town and country planning provisions, developers are being encouraged to reserve at least one percent of
planned areas for water harvesting and green spaces. Mechanisms for regular maintenance and desilting of
recharge systems are also being institutionalised.
The city is simultaneously advancing broader water resilience initiatives. An integrated Eco Bloc project
across the Kharun River, being implemented with an outlay of ₹30 crore under a disaster management
initiative, aims to conserve rainwater at scale and support development of a “Sponge City” model.
Interconnection of ponds and lakes is also being undertaken to improve urban water storage and
distribution.
Parallel efforts to promote treated wastewater reuse for industrial and infrastructure purposes are further
strengthening circular water management in the city.
Raipur’s experience reflects a significant shift in urban water governance, where groundwater
conservation is no longer viewed solely as an engineering challenge but as a participatory civic mission
involving government institutions, communities and local stakeholders.
As Indian cities confront growing groundwater stress, urban flooding and climate-related water
challenges, Raipur offers a scalable and replicable model for sustainable urban water management.
The city’s success demonstrates that when policy support, technical innovation and community
participation come together, rainwater can be transformed from seasonal runoff into a lasting source of
urban resilience and water security.
****
ND/HM
(Release ID: 2266694) Visitor Counter : 483
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Tamil