Bhopal, April 26 (IANS) In a bid to intensify water conservation efforts, the Madhya Pradesh government will organise special activities across the state on May 25, marking Ganga Dussehra, as part of the ongoing ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while reviewing the campaign at a state-level meeting via video conferencing late on Saturday, said the initiative (Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan) — launched on March 19 — will continue until June 30, with a focus on expanding public participation.

“The Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan must become a mass movement. Collective voluntary efforts such as cleaning wells, stepwells, ponds and canals, along with tree plantation, ghat cleaning and water conservation activities, should be carried out at village and ward levels,” CM Yadav said.

He directed officials to ensure that the Ganga Dussehra programmes witness participation from Panchayats, urban local bodies, NGOs, social and religious organisations, women’s self-help groups and trade associations, so that water conservation becomes a people-driven effort.

Highlighting the scale of the campaign, the Chief Minister noted that 82 activities across 16 departments have been identified under the initiative. He added that Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a national leader in participatory water conservation, with Dindori and Khandwa districts securing the top two positions nationally.

He further pointed out that under the Centre’s Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan, Dindori has ranked first in the country, while Khandwa has secured the second position, reflecting the state’s strong performance in community-driven water conservation.

CM Yadav also stressed the need for continuous monitoring of departmental activities and called for the introduction of a district-wise ranking system to promote efficiency and innovation.

He instructed officials to ensure arrangements for public drinking water kiosks during the summer, maintain cleanliness around water sources, and conduct regular water quality testing in schools and Anganwadi centres.

During the meeting, officials informed that more than 2.43 lakh works worth Rs 6,232 crore have been planned under the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, with districts such as Khandwa, Khargone, Dindori, Rajgarh and Balaghat leading in implementation.

Urban local bodies are focusing on rainwater harvesting, cleaning of drains and water channels, and beautification initiatives. Awareness campaigns, including rallies, seminars and street plays, are also being conducted across the state to encourage water conservation.

–IANS

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