The Ministry of Jal Shakti published a press release highlighting the water conservation achievements of Balod district in Chhattisgarh. Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call during the 135th edition of Mann Ki Baat to sustain the #CatchTheRain movement, the district has emerged as a model of community-driven water conservation under its Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 2.0 initiative.
Between June 2025 and May 2026, the district created a total of 284,917 water conservation and groundwater recharge structures through the active participation of Gram Panchayats, local communities, and the district administration. These interventions are already demonstrating tangible results during the ongoing monsoon. Several specific, innovative interventions were cited, including recharge pits near borewells in Gram Panchayat Mundera and Kongni, check dams in Odarsakari and Khuteri Gram Panchayats, recharge shafts in defunct borewells at Mundera, and contour trenches in Bhangagaon (R).
A flagship achievement is the rejuvenation of the Tawera Nala in Bhathagaon (R), Gundardehi block. The district revived a 14.3 km nala by constructing over 6,250 specific water conservation structures, including check dams, trenches, magic pits, soak pits, injection wells, rainwater harvesting systems, and greywater treatment facilities. These interventions are expected to enable the conservation of 6.5 crore litres of additional rainwater and improve groundwater levels by an estimated 5 to 10 feet. The initiative has also strengthened irrigation prospects and restored ecological health.
This success builds on the district's prior leadership in water conservation. Under the previous JSJB 1.0 initiative, Balod created over 106,000 structures, which earned it third position nationally and first in the Eastern Zone under the #CatchTheRain campaign, for which it was honored by the President of India. The press release frames these achievements as embodying the philosophy of 'Jan Bhagidari se Jal Sanrakshan' (water conservation through public participation), transforming water conservation into a national public movement ('Jan Andolan').