Latest news with #AtalBhujalYojana
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Business Standard
30-06-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Centre pushes expansion of Atal Bhujal Yojana to tackle groundwater crisis
The Centre on Monday stressed the need to scale up the Atal Bhujal Yojana - popularly known as Atal Jal - across India, citing its success in improving community-based groundwater management and raising awareness about water conservation, especially in the face of mounting climate challenges. Chairing the eighth meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) of Atal Jal here, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Department Secretary Debashree Mukherjee called this scheme a "unique and pioneering initiative" that has empowered local communities to take ownership of groundwater use. Mukherjee emphasized the urgency of mainstreaming Atal Jal nationally, pointing to the worsening impact of climate change on the water cycle. She advocated for mandatory water budgeting in all gram panchayats and urged the participating states to develop long-term operation and maintenance plans for infrastructure set up under the scheme. Mukherjee also encouraged the states to replicate successful pilot projects and use the knowledge and skills developed during implementation to enhance other water conservation initiatives. "Communities must become central actors in managing groundwater," she said. Highlighting the scheme's progress, Additional Secretary and National Project Coordinator Subodh Yadav noted that Atal Jal is now in its sixth year. He presented a pilot case from Ismailpur Gram Panchayat in Haryana's Yamunanagar district where high-frequency groundwater data was used to inform planning. A third-party impact assessment by the Quality Council of India found that the scheme has led to increased community participation, especially among women, improved local knowledge and a shift towards more water-efficient crops and farming practices, resulting in broader socio-economic benefits. Representatives from the World Bank, which supports this scheme, acknowledged the positive outcomes and identified areas needing further improvement. The participating states showcased local impacts during presentations, providing models for cross-learning and expansion. The committee urged the states to replicate the success of Atal Jal more broadly to build sustainable and inclusive groundwater management systems across the country.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Centre pushes for nationwide expansion of Atal Bhujal Yojana to tackle groundwater crisis
The Centre on Monday (June 30, 2025) stressed the need to scale up the Atal Bhujal Yojana - popularly known as Atal Jal - across India, citing its success in improving community-based groundwater management and raising awareness about water conservation, especially in the face of mounting climate challenges. Chairing the eighth meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) of Atal Jal in New Delhi, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Department Secretary Debashree Mukherjee called this scheme a "unique and pioneering initiative" that has empowered local communities to take ownership of groundwater use. Ms. Mukherjee emphasised the urgency of mainstreaming Atal Jal nationally, pointing to the worsening impact of climate change on the water cycle. She advocated for mandatory water budgeting in all gram panchayats and urged the participating states to develop long-term operation and maintenance plans for infrastructure set up under the scheme. Ms. Mukherjee also encouraged the states to replicate successful pilot projects and use the knowledge and skills developed during implementation to enhance other water conservation initiatives. "Communities must become central actors in managing groundwater," she said. Highlighting the scheme's progress, Additional Secretary and National Project Coordinator Subodh Yadav noted that Atal Jal is now in its sixth year. He presented a pilot case from Ismailpur Gram Panchayat in Haryana's Yamunanagar district where high-frequency groundwater data was used to inform planning. A third-party impact assessment by the Quality Council of India found that the scheme has led to increased community participation, especially among women, improved local knowledge and a shift towards more water-efficient crops and farming practices, resulting in broader socio-economic benefits. Representatives from the World Bank, which supports this scheme, acknowledged the positive outcomes and identified areas needing further improvement. The participating states showcased local impacts during presentations, providing models for cross-learning and expansion. The committee urged the states to replicate the success of Atal Jal more broadly to build sustainable and inclusive groundwater management systems across the country.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
NBT Conclave: Lucknow must prioritise water reuse, say experts
1 2 Lucknow: City authorities must prioritise water reuse systems to reduce dependence on depleting groundwater reserves, experts said at the 'Bhujal Suraksha, Bhavishya Ki Raksha' event organised by Navbharat Times and the UP groundwater department on Friday. Former Lucknow municipal commissioner and current director of UP NEDA Inderjit Singh highlighted the city's advances in wastewater treatment. Lucknow generates 770–800 million litres of sewage daily, of which 120 MLD is treated at jal nigam's GH canal-based plant. Advanced technology brings BOD and COD levels below 10 and with tertiary treatment, the water is safe for reuse. This treated water can refill urban lakes like Butler Lake, can be used to clean roads, irrigate over 2,400 parks and support construction, Metro and fire services. "Using recycled water not only eases groundwater demand but also improves air quality by reducing dust," he said. He cited Kathauta Lake—now filled with treated canal water—as an example that reduced dependence on deep tubewells in Gomtinagar and Indiranagar. Ongoing desilting by Jalkal is expected to further enhance the lake's capacity. Singh warned that over-extraction pushed tube wells to depths beyond 200 metres in some areas—a trend that reuse initiatives can help reverse. LDA vice-chairman Prathmesh Kumar said rainwater harvesting is mandatory for buildings over 300 sq-mt and smaller colonies are being encouraged to adopt shared recharge structures. He also spoke of lake restoration projects—Butler Lake, Kalapahad Jheel and Udyan Lake—linking them with stormwater recharge in urban planning. Architect Anupam Mittal stressed reviving rooftop harvesting and traditional systems like wells. "The earth is a natural filter," he said, citing successful conservation efforts in Kanpur. WaterAid India's state programme director Smriti Singh said water use and reuse should be integrated at the project planning stage. She highlighted the role of women in water management and recommended recharging dug wells in chemically contaminated areas. Dibyajyoti Halder from CMS called schools "change agents" and advocated water audits and awareness campaigns involving students. In an earlier session, hydrogeologist R S Sinha of the groundwater action group said UP uses nearly 20 billion cubic litres of water annually for sugarcane farming. Extraction from deep layers brings harmful minerals, affecting crops and human health. He noted a 15% decline in rainfall and urged area-specific groundwater planning using current data. Yogesh Bandhu Arya, state coordinator of the 2030 water resources group, said 42% of UP's irrigation relies on canals. Under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, micro-irrigation campaigns will begin in 20 villages to promote efficient water use. Dr Asad Umar from Aga Khan Foundation India stressed the need for public awareness. Dr Venkatesh Dutta, head of environmental science at BBAU, said the monsoon period reduced from 18 to 12–15 days, causing runoff and poor recharge. Despite a 45,000-km river network, effective water management remains a challenge. In closing, Dr Asad called for decentralised groundwater governance through community participation. Dr Dutta urged reuse and nature-based water return. V K Upadhyay emphasised mass awareness. Arya highlighted that 80% of clean water goes to irrigation, which can be cut through micro-irrigation. Sinha concluded by citing how Kathauta lake now meets Gomtinagar and Indiranagar's water needs, replacing deep borewell dependence. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
14-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
NBT Conclave: Groundwater level improved in UP 29 districts in past five years
1 2 Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is witnessing encouraging results from Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY), which aims at improving groundwater levels, and given this success, the state govt is planning to expand the initiative to the remaining 65 districts. The scheme, currently implemented in 26 blocks across 10 districts including Jhansi, Lalitpur, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Shamli, and Meerut, has led to significant improvements. Sharing this at a conclave on 'Bhujal Raksha, Bhavishya Ki Suraksha' organized by Navbharat Times and UP groundwater department, principal secretary, Namami Gange and rural water supply department, Anurag Srivastava emphasized the state's commitment to boosting groundwater management. He said that over the last five years, groundwater levels improved in 29 districts and the number of over-exploited development blocks came down from 82 (pre-2017) to 50. He said that the Bhujal Management and Regulation Act, 2019, had been enforced to regulate over-extraction and protect water sources. "Drip and sprinkler irrigation methods promoted under the Atal Bhujal Yojana and efforts through the Jal Jeevan Mission have started yielding visible outcomes. Over the last five years, groundwater levels have improved in 29 districts. The number of over-exploited development blocks has dropped from 82 (pre-2017) to 50, while critical blocks reduced from 47 to 45," Srivastava said. He said that urban areas face greater groundwater challenges compared to rural regions and urged municipal bodies to frame policies that support water conservation. He also highlighted that 80% of the state's water supply comes from groundwater, making its conservation vital for the success of tap water schemes. He stressed the importance of community participation, suggesting awareness drives, padyatras, and workshops in schools, colleges, panchayats, and industrial areas to build a culture of groundwater conservation. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
11-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Drip & sprinkler to boost groundwater recharge in state
Luckow: In a major push to conserve water and revive falling groundwater levels, the Uttar Pradesh groundwater department will expand the area under rooftop rainwater harvesting and promote drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, particularly in blocks where groundwater has remained below normal for the past decade. Officials said govt aims to reach over 25% of farmers in these water-stressed areas with efficient irrigation technologies. Under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, only 5% of farmers in 10 participating districts currently use drip or sprinkler systems. However, this figure is set to increase sharply. According to data from the groundwater department, land under drip and sprinkler irrigation in the 10 Atal Bhujal districts has grown 10-fold — from 1,730 hectares in 2020-21 to 18,189 hectares in 2024-25. Across the state, total area irrigated by these methods has surged from 3.35 lakh hectares to 6.02 lakh hectares in the same period. Officials noted a direct correlation between the adoption of these water-saving methods and improvement in groundwater levels, with 22 districts showing marked recovery over the past five years. Notably, Agra recorded a rise of 164.3cm, Barabanki 147.7cm and Jhansi 136.4cm. Why govt is prioritizing drip irrigation Over 70% of the cultivable area in UP is irrigated with groundwater. Drip and sprinkler irrigation saves 40–80% more water than traditional methods. Crop productivity rises by up to 45%. It is highly effective in crops like sugarcane and vegetables. Marginal farmers receive up to 90% subsidy on irrigation equipment. With expanding use of modern irrigation and enhanced rainwater harvesting, UP aims to ensure long-term water security, especially in regions historically hit by groundwater depletion.
