Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel today kicked off the construction of recharge wells at Chodungri village in Dantiwada Taluka of Banaskantha under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2025 campaign. Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and Legislative Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary also attended the event.

The ceremony saw the Chief Minister and dignitaries ceremoniously flag off JCB machines and tractors, marking the formal commencement of construction.

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched nationally in 2019, continues to mobilize public participation for water conservation. In Banaskantha alone, the state government plans to build around 50,000 recharge wells, half of which will be developed with the support of Banas Dairy. The Chief Minister lauded Shankar Chaudhary and his team for their dedicated efforts through Banas Dairy.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instilled a culture of harnessing Jan Shakti (People’s Power) for national development through the mantra of “Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas” (Collective Effort, Inclusive Growth). He credited Gujarat’s inclusive development to the Prime Minister’s vision, grounded in Jal Shakti, Jan Shakti, Urja Shakti, Raksha Shakti, and Gyan Shakti.

He recalled that when the Prime Minister served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, the state was battling water and power shortages. Through his visionary leadership, a large-scale water conservation movement was launched, including the construction of check dams and reservoirs. These efforts transformed Gujarat from a water-deficient to a water-surplus state.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil stated that India is home to 18% of the world’s livestock, with Banaskantha district having the highest number of animals. Water is essential not only for animals but also for sustaining life. However, it may surprise many that only 4% of the country’s water is potable.

Out of 700 districts in India, 150 are designated as dark zones in terms of water availability—including Banaskantha, one of the largest districts in North Gujarat. Efforts to lift Banaskantha out of this dark zone have been underway for the past year under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Under his leadership, continuous efforts are being made nationwide to conserve water through initiatives like Amrit Sarovar, Narmada Yojana, and Sauni Yojana. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had emphasized the need to connect rivers, and the current Prime Minister is fulfilling this vision by working to link rivers such as the Narmada, Sabarmati, and rivers in Kutch. Moreover, a ₹77,000 crore project has been approved to connect three rivers across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

To realize the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, it is crucial to address the country’s water needs not merely through dam construction, but by adopting the “Catch the Rain” approach—harvesting rainwater and recharging groundwater resources.

On this occasion, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Shankar Chaudhary stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a major initiative to tackle water scarcity in dark zone districts, with Banaskantha being the first selected in Gujarat. As part of this effort, Banas Dairy will construct 25,000 recharge wells in the district, offering farmers 50 percent assistance.

He emphasized the need to continue this campaign over the next four years, with a vision extending over ten years. To further green Banaskantha, Banas Dairy has also undertaken mountain revitalization by dispersing seed balls. He also spoke about the success of Operation Sindoor.

He stressed that collective efforts are essential for effective groundwater recharge and reiterated the need for long-term planning to ensure the campaign’s sustainability. He once again highlighted Banas Dairy’s contribution in promoting vegetation through seed ball dispersal on hills and lauded the achievements of Operation Sindoor.

Ms. Archana Varma, Managing Director of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, briefed the attendees about the ministry’s ongoing initiatives, while Banaskantha District Collector Mihir Patel extended a warm welcome to all present. DeshGujarat