The Madhya Pradesh government’s Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan, an initiative for water conservation with goals that include conservation and rejuvenation of rivers, water sources, and wetlands, is yielding promising results.
Since March 30, when the initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ghoda Pachhad River - a tributary of the Narmada - has been revived in Khandwa district. This has been possible with support from local citizens.
Uncontrolled groundwater extraction had dried up this and other small rivers, affecting agriculture. Through water conservation structures built using the ‘Ridge to Valley’ principle, water has been harvested over a 33km stretch. As a result, the river is once again flowing, and year-round water flow in the region’s rivers is now becoming a possibility.
The above approach intends to conserve every drop of water starting at the ridge and reduce to a considerable extent both the surface run-off volume and the velocity of water.
The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board has surveyed major rivers including Narmada, Chambal, Shipra, Betwa, Son, Tons, Tapti, Kanh, Mahi, Sindh, and Ben Ganga. It was found that approximately 450 million litres of domestic wastewater is discharged daily into these rivers via 158 drains. To address this, the Urban Development Department is setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 869 million litres per day.
While the state had only one Ramsar Site in 2002, by 2025 this number has grown to five. Indore is the first Wetland City of India. Following the directions of the Supreme Court, the State Wetland Authority has successfully completed the physical verification and demarcation of 13,565 wetlands larger than 2.25 hectares within the stipulated time. Additionally, Indore Municipal Corporation and EPCO have preserved 330 traditional wells and stepwells, contributing to the revival of the city's historic water culture.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that preserving ecological balance requires public participation. Rivers, trees, mountains, and humans are all interdependent. The Jal Ganga campaign embodies this collective responsibility, ensuring that the priceless legacy of water, life, and nature is safeguarded for future generations.
