Telangana ranks first in rainwater harvesting; 5.20 lakh works taken up in 2024-25

Telangana has secured the top position in the Jal Sanchai Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 1.0 rankings announced by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, emerging as the best-performing State in rainwater conservation. Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan secured the second and third positions respectively.

Seven forms of rainwater harvesting works

During 2024-25, Telangana undertook 5,20,362 rainwater harvesting works, the highest in the country. The works included construction of check dams, soak pits, rooftop rainwater harvesting structures, borewell recharge, sub-surface dykes, farm ponds and percolation tanks.

The initiative was spearheaded by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department with support from multiple departments, voluntary organisations and individuals.

Eight districts from the State also received national-level recognition under the initiative. Adilabad, Nalgonda and Mancherial districts were awarded ₹2 crore each; Warangal, Nirmal and Jangaon secured ₹1 crore each; while Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubnagar were awarded ₹25 lakh each.

Expressing happiness over the achievement, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR&RD) Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) congratulated Principal Secretary N. Sridhar, Director G. Srujana, District Collectors and officials for their role. She said the campaign, designed with three objectives—increasing groundwater, efficient use of rainwater, and community participation—was another message Telangana had given to the country on sustainable practices.

The JSJB initiative was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Surat, Gujarat. The programme is aimed at addressing India’s water stress, where 18% of the world’s population depends on just 4% of its water resources, and nearly 256 districts face “critical” or “over-exploited” groundwater levels.