India, July 21 -- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), on Monday held a national-level interaction with 75 cities to review their experiences in implementing Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) under the AMRUT mission as part of the 'Catch the Rain' campaign. The interaction served as a platform for urban local bodies to share best practices and discuss groundwater recharge initiatives aimed at strengthening water security and enhancing climate resilience. The meeting was chaired by Additional Secretary D. Thara and moderated by Joint Secretary Isha Kalia. Representatives from all 75 cities participated, presenting their experiences and exchanging ideas on sustainable groundwater management.
Officials highlighted the progress made under the SAM component, with cities showcasing various groundwater rejuvenation and recharge structures that have contributed to groundwater conservation. Among the success stories, Korba announced plans to rejuvenate 95 additional old borewells following the success of its recharge initiatives. Vizianagaram reported an improvement in groundwater levels, while Nagpur said it would construct 100 more groundwater recharge structures during the current monsoon. Bhubaneswar highlighted how recharge structures have helped mitigate urban flooding by improving groundwater levels. Groundwater experts participating in the interaction stressed that long-term sustainability of groundwater resources would depend on active community ownership and greater public participation in conservation efforts. According to MoHUA, the interaction marked another step towards promoting scientific soil and water conservation, nature-based solutions and community-led water management practices under the AMRUT mission.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.