Panchkula (Haryana) [India], March 26 (HBTV): On the occasion of World Water Day, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urged citizens to pledge to conserve every drop of water and prevent its misuse. He encouraged people to become 'Jal Mitras' and contribute to the success of the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025' campaign.

Speaking at the national-level launch ceremony of the initiative at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula on Saturday, the Chief Minister described the campaign as a milestone in ongoing water conservation efforts. He assured that Haryana’s 2.8 crore people would work tirelessly to make the movement successful.

Welcoming Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to Haryana, Saini expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union minister for selecting the state as the launch site for the nationwide initiative. He stated that the event was an honor not only for him as Chief Minister but also for every citizen of Haryana.

Saini emphasized that water conservation is not just a campaign but a revolution. He noted that the initiative is not merely a government scheme but a critical step to securing the future of coming generations. He added that when 'Neeti, Niyat aur Netratav' (Policy, Intent, and Leadership) align, societal transformation follows, citing PM Modi’s success in turning social concerns—such as cleanliness, health, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, and water conservation—into mass movements.

Highlighting India's water crisis, the Chief Minister pointed out that while the country has only 4 percent of the world's freshwater resources, it is home to 18 percent of the global population. He warned that failing to take decisive steps now could lead to severe future challenges.

Saini stressed that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan is crucial for both present and future generations. He said the campaign aims to increase public participation and awareness in water conservation. He noted that Haryana lacks abundant water resources and depends on other states or groundwater, both of which have limitations. However, rainwater harvesting offers a viable alternative.

The Haryana government has launched multiple water conservation schemes, including the 'Mera Pani-Meri Virasat' initiative, which incentivizes farmers to cultivate low-water-consuming crops. The financial aid for this program has been raised from INR 7,000 to INR 8,000 per acre in the latest budget.

To enhance irrigation efficiency, underground pipelines have been installed for drip and sprinkler irrigation. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: Per Drop More Crop initiative, farmers receive up to 85 percent subsidy for micro-irrigation techniques. Additionally, treated water from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) is being used for irrigation, industries, and non-drinking urban needs.

Under the Amrit Sarovar Mission, 2,215 ponds have been renovated for wastewater management, and the state government is promoting rainwater harvesting by subsidizing the construction of farm ponds. More than 68,000 water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures have been developed across Haryana to improve water availability.

Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Choudhry highlighted the importance of adopting the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' approach to water management. She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to water conservation under CM Saini’s leadership and mentioned that an app has been developed to help residents track canal water levels and supply schedules.

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi stated that Haryana’s water crisis requires urgent attention, as the state's rainfall has been declining, and water availability from major rivers such as the Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, and Yamuna has diminished over the past decades. He noted that out of 143 blocks in Haryana, 88 have now been classified as ‘dark zones’ due to groundwater depletion.

Rastogi said the government has conducted a comprehensive survey of water resources and created a pond atlas to aid conservation efforts. Measures such as recharging riverbeds and constructing water harvesting structures have been implemented, but further efforts are needed to secure water resources for future generations.

Union Jal Shakti Secretary Ashok Meena commended Haryana for setting an example in water conservation through community-driven initiatives. He stated that this year's Jal Shakti Abhiyan is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change under the 'Jal-Jangal-Jan: Ek Prakritik Bandhan Abhiyan' (Water-Forest-People: The Intrinsic Bond campaign), which aims to strengthen the link between water conservation and ecological sustainability.

The event was attended by Haryana Water Resources Authority Chairperson Keshni Anand Arora, MP Kartik Sharma, MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, BJP State President Mohan Lal Badoli, Mayor Panchkula Kulbhushan Goyal, former Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, and other dignitaries.

(ANI)