Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level review meeting at his official residence to assess the progress of the Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply (Minor Irrigation) Department. The Chief Minister reiterated that water conservation and groundwater recharge are now national priorities and must be treated as a collective social responsibility.
CM Yogi emphasized that check dams, ponds, and blast tubes play a crucial role in capturing rainwater and gradually recharging groundwater levels. He said these structures are not just local priorities but national necessities, forming part of integrated water management, which is both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable compared to large dams.
“Just as the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign turned tree plantation into a people’s movement, the construction and rejuvenation of check dams, ponds, and blast tubes must also become a mass campaign,” the Chief Minister stated.
🌊 Key Achievements and Data Highlights:
6,448 check dams have been constructed across various regions of Uttar Pradesh. Each dam provides irrigation potential for approximately 20 hectares, creating a total of 1,28,960 hectares of additional irrigation capacity.
Since FY 2022–23, 1,002 check dams have been desilted and repaired, enhancing their efficiency and storage capacity. Out of 16,610 ponds (ranging from 1 to 5 hectares), 1,343 ponds have been revived and rejuvenated. From 2017 to 2025, 6,192 blast tubes were constructed, adding 18,576 hectares of irrigation capacity.
These efforts have enabled farmers to cultivate two to three crops annually, boosting agricultural productivity and water sustainability.
💧 Rainwater Harvesting and Rural Empowerment:
The Chief Minister instructed that, before every monsoon (from April 1 to June 15), potters should be allowed to collect free clay from ponds to prepare them for rainwater recharge. After the monsoon, these ponds can be used for fish farming and water chestnut (Singhara) cultivation, creating local employment opportunities.
He also directed that rainwater harvesting systems be mandatory in all buildings larger than 100 square meters, both in urban and rural areas, to ensure effective groundwater replenishment.
📉 Groundwater Status Improvement:
CM Yogi highlighted that continuous efforts have led to a significant reduction in overexploited groundwater zones.
In 2017, the state had 82 overexploited and 47 critical regions.
By 2024, this number decreased to 50 overexploited and 45 critical zones — a notable improvement achieved through sustained initiatives.
He urged officials to accelerate these efforts to bring all regions into the “normal” groundwater category in the coming years.
🌱 Community Participation and Awareness:
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of public participation and awareness. He directed officials to ensure photographic documentation of all ponds, blast tubes, and check dams and to promote the campaign on social media and through local representatives.
“Like the success of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, the collective effort for check dam and pond development will not only address the water crisis but also revitalize agriculture, fisheries, and the rural economy,” CM Yogi said.
He reaffirmed that the Uttar Pradesh government’s commitment to water conservation and groundwater recharge is unwavering, and with community participation, it will become a model for sustainable water management in India.
