Uttarakhand: ACS Anand Vardhan took feedback of water conservation works of financial year 2024-25 from all the districts, gave instructions to prepare an action plan for the campaign of 2025-26

The Additional Chief Secretary directed that the water bodies and Amrit Sarovars constructed earlier should also be surveyed once again and if any kind of improvement is required in it, then make sure to make a proposal for that as well. He also directed to reactivate the district level SARA center. He also directed all the districts to submit proposals for big projects related to water conservation and catch the rain.

During this, Additional Chief Executive Officer State Level Committee Neena Grewal presented the action plan of Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan – 2025-26. In which he told that this year public participation will be ensured in the water conservation campaign with the theme Dhara Mera, Naula Mera, Gaon Mera, Prayas Mera. Said that data will be collected through Bhagirath App to identify the drying water sources and tributary rivers, streams. With Q – R code, every citizen will be able to send information about the water sources of his village through Bhagirath App. Soon this app will be launched and it will be widely publicized in various mediums. In the first phase, SARA will identify water conservation areas of 2000 water sources on priority basis and provide 100% funds for treatment to the implementing departments. Through conversion, 50% funds will be provided by SARA for treatment activities on technical and scientific basis of tributary rivers and streams. Apart from this, this year, capacity development workshop on water resource management will be organized in 200 Gram Panchayats with the cooperation of Panchayati Raj Department. To improve the groundwater level in the plain areas, the implementing departments will identify the treatment works and implement the treatment activities.

On this occasion, Regional Director of Central Ground Water Board Prashant Rai, Deputy Director SARA State Center N S Barfal, Deputy Director UCRRFP (Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rainfed Farming Project) Deputy Director S K Upadhyay, Project Coordinator Sudha Tomar and SARA’s state level team were present in the meeting.