**Executive Summary**
The Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C. R. Paatil, along with the Chief Minister of Gujarat, co-chaired a video conference on February 3, 2026, to review the progress of various districts in Gujarat under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari scheme. The meeting aimed to reinforce the importance of water conservation efforts and ensure coordinated action across the state. The program was originally launched September 6, 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Scheme:**
* The meeting was a review of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari scheme, launched on 6th September 2024.
* The scheme's objective is to transform Jal Sanchay into a Jan Andolan (people's movement), aligning with the Prime Minister's vision of "catch the rain where it falls, when it falls."
* The scheme must be implemented through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
* **State Government Support:**
* The Gujarat government reiterated its commitment to the successful implementation of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari.
* The State Government has introduced supportive measures, including a scheme providing 90% financial assistance for recharging old borewells.
* MLAs have been advised to allocate ₹50 lakh per constituency from their MLA Local Area Development funds for water conservation.
* **District Collectors' Role:**
* District Collectors of Banaskantha, Kutch, and Rajkot made presentations on the progress and initiatives in their districts.
* District Collectors were motivated to actively use MGNREGA funds, ensure convergence of schemes, and leverage CSR initiatives, NGO participation, and Forest Department activities for water conservation.
* **Ministry of Jal Shakti Support:**
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti is providing technical assistance to districts to enable efficient planning and execution of water conservation works.
* **Call to Action:**
* Accelerate water conservation efforts before the monsoon.
* Sustain momentum and coordinate action at the district level.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact**
* Gujarat’s approach to water conservation is held up as a model for others to follow.
**Action Required**
* Sustain momentum and coordinate action at the district level.
**Impact**
* Ensure convergence of schemes, and leverage CSR initiatives, NGO participation, and Forest Department activities for water conservation.
**Action Required**
* Accelerate water conservation efforts before the monsoon.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: A water conservation initiative launched in Gujarat to transform Jal Sanchay into a Jan Andolan through Jan Bhagidari.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Union ministry responsible for providing technical assistance to districts for water conservation planning and execution.
Gujarat: The state where the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative is being implemented and the location of the review meeting.
MGNREGA: A government scheme whose funds District Collectors are encouraged to utilize for water conservation efforts
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C. R. Paatil held
review meeting on Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari
with District Collectors of Gujarat
Posted On: 03 FEB 2026 8:28PM by PIB Delhi
A video conference was held to review the progress of various districts of Gujarat under Jal Sanchay Jan
Bhagidari, co-chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel and the Hon’ble
Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil, with all District Collectors of the State of Gujarat.
The review meeting was convened in the context of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, which was launched on
6th September 2024 from Surat, Gujarat, in the virtual presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Narendra Modi, with the objective of transforming Jal Sanchay into a Jan Andolan through Jan Bhagidari,
in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “catch the rain where it falls, when it falls.”
Senior officials present in the meeting included V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water
Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation; Manoj Kumar Das, Chief Secretary,
Government of Gujarat; and other senior officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Government of
Gujarat.
Addressing the meeting, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat reiterated that the Government of Gujarat
is fully committed to the successful implementation of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and is already actively
engaged in its execution across the State. He highlighted that the State Government has introduced
supportive measures, including a scheme under which 90% financial assistance is provided for recharge of
old borewells. He further cited examples from Banaskantha district, where through true Jan Bhagidari,
innovative recharge structures have been created. The Hon’ble Chief Minister also informed that MLAs
have been advised to allocate ₹50 lakh per constituency from their MLA Local Area Development funds
for water conservation activities, further strengthening public participation.
During the meeting, presentations were made by District Collectors of Banaskantha, Kutch and Rajkot,
showcasing the on-ground progress and initiatives undertaken in their respective districts under Jal
Sanchay Jan Bhagidari.
In his address to the District Collectors, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti emphasised the need to
accelerate water conservation efforts across all districts of Gujarat before the onset of the monsoon. He
motivated District Collectors to actively utilise MGNREGA funds, ensure convergence of various
government schemes, and leverage CSR initiatives, NGO participation and Forest Department activities to
create rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures at scale. He also underlined that the
Ministry of Jal Shakti is providing technical assistance to districts to enable efficient planning and
execution of water conservation works.
The Hon’ble Minister stressed that Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari must be implemented through a whole-of-
government and whole-of-society approach, so as to realise the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of
converting Jal Sanchay into a Jan Andolan through Jan Bhagidari.District Collectors were sensitised to ensure sustained momentum and coordinated action at the district
level so that Gujarat continues to remain at the forefront of water conservation efforts.***
ND
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Read this release in: Gujarati