Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Crosses 1.58 Crore Recharge Structures

A PIB backgrounder of 3 September 2026 traced the progress of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, the water conservation initiative built on community partnership. It was launched on 6 September 2024. The initiative builds low-cost groundwater recharge and water storage structures and revives defunct borewells. It follows a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, and it is guided by the 3Cs, namely Community, Corporate Social Responsibility and Cost.

How the numbers grew

In June 2026 the scope of the initiative was widened. It was joined with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign and renamed Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain.

The Jal Shakti summit

The Ministry of Jal Shakti held its Departmental Summit in New Delhi on 1 and 2 September 2026. It was the first of a series of such summits meant to strengthen cooperative federalism and closer work between the Centre and the States. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain was one of the Summit's four thematic pillars. The other three were water infrastructure projects, source sustainability of drinking water systems, and rural water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested promoting a Jal Utsav to build public awareness. He called for stronger teaching and capacity on water management in universities and higher educational institutions, for structured inter-State study visits by public representatives, officials and farmers, and for robust water data governance. The Summit was described as a step towards a Water Secure India and Viksit Bharat 2047.

Two states that show the model

In the Korea district of Chhattisgarh, farmers gave up part of their own land for water conservation. Under the Aawa Paani Jhoki movement they voluntarily set aside 5 per cent of their agricultural land for recharge ponds and terraced pits. More than 1,260 farmers adopted the model and more than 2,000 soak pits were created in the district. Groundwater levels rose by 3 to 4 metres in many villages, and springs came back to life in 17 remote tribal hamlets. Government support came as micro-watershed mapping, hydrogeological assessment and technical guidance.

In the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, the villages of Murugummi, Marella and Thangella had faced erratic rainfall, falling groundwater and failing borewells. Gram Sabhas, door-to-door campaigns, Kalajathas and workshops were used to raise awareness, and a ridge-to-valley approach was adopted. Murugummi built 71 structures giving about 8.11 lakh cubic metres of storage. Marella built 53 structures, and Thangella 71. Together the work improved groundwater availability for about 5,900 people and helped reduce distress migration.