On Monday CM Biren launched the Manipur chapter of the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” campaign which Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched via video conferencing. The chief minister launched the state chapter of the campaign that will continue till November 30, 2021 at a simple function held at chief minister’s secretariat on Monday.
After formally launching the campaign, Singh instructed the officials to form a joint committee of water resources department, PHED and minor irrigation for the successful implementation of the campaign to reduce the problem of water scarcity in the next dry season. He also directed them to bring the local self-government into confidence so that Prime Minister’s instructions are translated into action at maximum level and make the campaign a success.
On the occasion, the chief minister also released a booklet titled, ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’ published by the directorate of information and public relations.
A short video on water conservation was also screened during the function. Later, the chief minister administered “Water Pledge” to the gathering to conserve and use water judiciously.
The campaign will be undertaken across the country, in both rural and urban areas, with the theme “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls”.
It will be carried on as a Jan Andolan to take water conservation at grassroots level through people’s participation.
It is intended to nudge all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to the climatic conditions and sub-soil strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater. Gram sabhas will be held in all gram panchayats of each district (except in the poll bound states) to discuss issues related to water and water conservation. Gram sabhas will also take ‘Jal Shapath’ (Water Pledge) for water conservation.
