**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the technical and financial assistance provided by the Central Government to States for water conservation and pollution abatement. It highlights the "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" (JSJB) initiative launched in September 2024, alongside various schemes like the National River Conservation Plan and Jal Jeevan Mission. The document specifies fund-sharing patterns and mandates the use of digital monitoring systems to ensure transparency and accountability in project execution.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Initiative**
* Launched on September 6, 2024, in Surat, Gujarat, to intensify community mobilization for building low-cost rainwater harvesting structures.
* Leverages diverse funding sources including community funds, CSR, individual donations, and convergence with schemes like MGNREGS, AMRUT, and PMKSY.
* Focuses on constructing borewells, recharge shafts, and recharge pits using locally available materials to boost groundwater levels.
* Includes an incentive plan to recognize top-performing States, districts, NGOs, and industries for water conservation and awareness activities.
**River and Watershed Management Programs**
* **National River Conservation Plan (NRCP):** Provides financial and technical aid for pollution abatement (sewerage systems, treatment plants) in 58 rivers across 100 towns.
* **Namami Gange Programme:** Implements wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and afforestation for the rejuvenation of the Ganga basin.
* **River Basin Management (RBM):** The Brahmaputra Board offers assistance for flood management, erosion control, and springshed management.
* **WDC-PMKSY 2.0:** Supports watershed development through financial sharing, technical guidelines, and geospatial monitoring.
**Financial Assistance and Sharing Patterns**
* **Jal Jeevan Mission:** Funding ratios (Centre:State) are 100:0 for UTs without legislature, 90:10 for North-Eastern/Himalayan States, and 50:50 for other States.
* **SMI and RRR Schemes:** Central Assistance ranges from 60% for general projects to 90%–100% for UTs, North-Eastern states, and hilly regions.
* **Funding Criteria:** Allocations are based on project urgency, flood/erosion risks, past performance, and the timely submission of Utilization Certificates.
**Technical Support and Accountability**
* Deployment of Central Ministerial Nodal Officers (CMNOs) from the CGWB and CWC to provide technical guidance and verify structures.
* Mandatory use of the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and Online Monitoring System (MIS) for real-time tracking of progress.
* Strict adherence to General Financial Rules (GFR-2017) and submission of audited accounts for fund utilization.
**Impact Analysis**
**State and UT Governments**
**Impact:** They receive critical financial subsidies (up to 100% in specific regions) and technical expertise to execute large-scale water projects.
**Action Required:** Must appoint State Nodal Officers, submit detailed project proposals, and ensure the timely submission of Utilization Certificates and audited accounts.
**Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations and ULBs)**
**Impact:** They gain access to convergent financing from multiple central schemes to address local water stress and pollution.
**Action Required:** Implement rainwater harvesting systems in "saturation mode" and compete for recognition under the JSJB incentive plan.
**Central Agencies (CGWB and CWC)**
**Impact:** These bodies are tasked with increased oversight and technical validation roles across state-level projects.
**Action Required:** Deploy Central Ministerial Nodal Officers to provide technical guidance and verify the integrity of water conservation structures.
**Private Sector and Community (NGOs, Industries, Philanthropists)**
**Impact:** Recognized as essential partners in water conservation through the JSJB initiative’s community-driven model.
**Action Required:** Contribute to water conservation efforts through CSR funds, donations, and the mobilization of local resources for infrastructure building.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB): A community-led initiative launched in Surat, Gujarat, focused on mobilizing funds and action for constructing low-cost rainwater harvesting structures.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): An umbrella scheme that provides central assistance for watershed development and the repair, renovation, and restoration (RRR) of water bodies.
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): A central program providing financial and technical assistance to states for pollution abatement and the construction of sewage treatment plants in identified river stretches.
Namami Gange Programme: An integrated conservation mission for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga and its tributaries through wastewater treatment and solid waste management.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A mission focused on providing water supply with specific fund-sharing patterns and support for water quality monitoring systems.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
PROVIDED TO STATES FOR WATER
CONSERVATION
Posted On: 23 MAR 2026 5:06PM by PIB Delhi
Water being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including its conservation are studied,
planned, funded and executed by the State Governments as per their own resources and priorities. The
Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up by the State Governments.
“Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” (JSJB) initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat on 6 September, 2024. The
JSJB initiative focuses on intensifying community action and mobilization to build low-cost rainwater
harvesting structures in low cost and saturation mode. The initiative leverages community funds,
individual donations, Corporate Social Responsibility Funds and others for construction of low-cost
structures like borewells, recharge shafts, recharge pits, using locally available material, to harvest
rainwater, to boost ground water level and provide local tailor-made solution to water issues.
The initiative emphasizes convergent financing from various schemes of the Central, State and local
bodies like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Atal
Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Per Drop More Crop, Repair,
Renovation and Restoration Components under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY),
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Finance
Commission grants.
To address the challenges faced by States and local bodies in implementing rainwater harvesting
systems, particularly in water-stressed regions, the Government of India has adopted a comprehensive,
multi-pronged approach. As part of this strategy, Central Ministerial Nodal Officers (CMNOs) from
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and Central Water Commission (CWC) are deployed to provide
technical guidance and verify the water conservation structures. Further, State Nodal Officers are also
appointed by all the states/ UTs to oversee the implementation of the initiative at state level.
Under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), financial and technical assistance is provided for
abatement of pollution in identified polluted stretches of rivers in the country for other than rivers in
Ganga basin and its tributaries. NRCP takes up various pollution abatement works relating to
interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage
treatment plants, low-cost sanitation, river front/bathing Ghat development. Proposals for pollution
abatement works in the towns along polluted river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time
to time for consideration under NRCP and sanctioned based on their prioritization, conformity with
NRCP guidelines, availability of funds. NRCP has covered 58 rivers in 100 towns spread over 17 States
at a total sanctioned cost of Rs 8970.51 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 3019 million litre per
day (MLD) has been created.Under the “River Basin Management (RBM) – Brahmaputra Board”, technical and limited financial
assistance are provided to States which includes planning, DPR preparation, surveys, and execution of
selected flood management, erosion control, drainage and springshed management works, along with
advisory and capacity building support.
Under the Namami Gange Programme, a comprehensive set of interventions such as wastewater
treatment, solid waste management, river front management (ghats and crematoria development), e-
flow, afforestation, biodiversity conservation and Public Participation are taken up for rejuvenation of
river Ganga and its tributaries.
Under Jal Jeevan Mission, the fund sharing pattern between Centre and States/ UTs (Central share: State
share) is 100:00 for Union Territories without legislature, 90:10 for North-Eastern & Himalayan States
and UTs with legislature, and 50:50 for rest of the States. Further, under Support and Water Quality
Monitoring System (WQMS) activities the funding pattern is 100:00 for Union Territories, 90:10 for
Himalayan & North-Eastern States and 60:40 for other States.
Under Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies
schemes, the Central Assistance (CA) is provided in the form of grant which is 100% of the project cost
for UTs without legislature. Central Assistance is 90% of the project cost for UTs with legislature and 7
North-Eastern states and Sikkim & Hilly States (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand). Further, Central
Assistance/grant under SMI scheme is 60% of project cost for projects benefitting special areas i.e.
undivided Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi (KBK) districts of Odisha, Bundelkhand region of UP and
MP, Marathwada &Vidharbha region of Maharashtra, Left Wing Extremist affected areas, Tribal areas,
Flood prone area, DPAP (Drought Prone Area Programme) areas, Desert Development Programme
(DDP) area of other States /UTs. Central Assistance under RRR of WBs scheme is 60% of project cost
for all other category
Under Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC–
PMKSY 2.0) financial assistance is shared in the ratio of 60:40 (Plain States), 90:10 (North-
Eastern/Himalayan States) and 100% for UTs along with technical support through guidelines, capacity
building and geospatial monitoring.
The criteria used for allocation of funds under various schemes, inter alia, include priority and urgency
of works, particularly in flood-prone and erosion-affected areas; requests and proposals received from
State Governments; extent of likely benefits, such as protection of life, property, infrastructure and
agricultural land; past performance, including progress of ongoing works and submission of Utilization
Certificates; and instructions/ directives issued by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative has an incentive plan to recognize contributions in
water conservation across categories including top performing States/UTs, districts, Municipal
Corporations, ULB, partner ministries/departments, industries, NGOs, philanthropists and nodal officers
in conjunction with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The incentive quantum, as per
the plan, is earmarked for water conservation structures and water conservation awareness activities,
including Capacity building of stakeholders, only. Under the Namami Gange Programme, incentives are
provided under the Hybrid Annuity Mode for early completion of the project.
Transparency and accountability in fund utilization are ensured through multiple mechanisms, inter alia
include, making PFMS mandatory for releasing/utilizing funds; adherence to General Financial Rules
(GFR-2017), Online Monitoring System (MIS) for real-time tracking of physical and financial progress;
submission of Utilization Certificates and audited accounts as per prescribed norms of Ministry of
Finance.The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ
BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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ND
(Rajya Sabha USQ 3456)
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