C.R. Patil reviews Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Atal Bhujal Yojana with collectors of 151 districts
Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil reviewed Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain and Atal Bhujal Yojana with District Collectors on 10 March 2025, directing that all government buildings, schools and health facilities install rainwater harvesting.
Summary
Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil chaired a review on 10 March 2025 with District Collectors of 151 districts under Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain and 80 districts under Atal Bhujal Yojana. He called for a dedicated monitoring officer in every district, rainwater harvesting systems in all government buildings, schools and health facilities, and recharge structures in urban planning. He urged districts to pool funds from MGNREGA, the 15th Finance Commission grants, the District Mineral Fund and CSR. He cited Navsari, Gujarat, where 1,100 rainwater harvesting structures were built in 24 hours through community participation during the PM's Women's Day visit. Atal Bhujal Yojana, launched on 25 December 2019, is a ₹6,000-crore central sector scheme for community-led groundwater management in seven states, half funded by a World Bank loan.
Key facts
- Date
- 10 March 2025
- Coverage
- 151 districts (JSA: Catch the Rain); 80 districts (Atal Bhujal)
- Directions
- Monitoring officer per district; RWH in all govt buildings, schools, health facilities
- Funding convergence
- MGNREGA, 15th FC, DMF, CSR
- Atal Bhujal
- Launched 25 Dec 2019; 7 states; ₹6,000 crore, 50% World Bank loan
Practice MCQs 2 questions
According to C.R. Patil on 10 March 2025, how many rainwater harvesting structures were built in Navsari within 24 hours during the PM's Women's Day visit?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1,100
Patil said 1,100 rainwater harvesting structures were created in Navsari within 24 hours through community participation.
Consider the following statements about the Atal Bhujal Yojana: 1. It is a central sector scheme for community-led groundwater management, half of whose ₹6,000-crore outlay comes from a World Bank loan. 2. It covers all states that have over-exploited groundwater blocks. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the scheme covers seven states — Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh — in 80 districts.