Home Secretary Convenes Meeting to Review Progress and Create Action Plan on Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge of Groundwater in UT Chandigarh
The Government of India launched the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025” campaign with theme “Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari- Jan Jagrukta ki Or” on March 22, 2025, to promote rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of groundwater. Following this initiative, a meeting was convened by Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary- cum- Secretary Water Resources, UT Chandigarh Administraion to review progress and create an action plan regarding the same.
During the meeting, the current status of ground water in the city was presented and action plan for artificial recharge of ground water at feasible sites in the city, was discussed. It was decided that all government buildings, schools, and Anganwadi centers in Chandigarh should be saturated with rainwater harvesting structures by November 2025. It was also decided that advisory be issued to autonomous bodies, such as PU and PGI, and governments of Haryana, Punjab, and Central to construct rainwater harvesting systems in their premises. All existing rainwater harvesting systems shall be geo-tagged.
A Cleaning Drive for existing rainwater harvesting systems (government and private) shall be held from 1st to 7th May, 2025. For this, plans to encourage community involvement throughout the campaigns, was also discussed. The scope to build rainwater harvesting systems in community centers and schools under CSR initiatives, was also discussed. This meeting will serve as a critical reference for future water management policies and conservation strategies in UT Chandigarh.
Mandip Singh Brar directed all the concerned departments to complete their respective tasks in a time bound manner and upload the same at the desired online government portals.
Present in the meeting were Ms. Prerna Puri, IAS, Secretary Engineering, Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Saurabh Kumar, IFS, Chief Conservator Forest, Nishant Kumar Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Chandigarh, Ms. Isha Kamboj, HCS, Joint Secretary, Local Government, Sanjay Arora, Chief Engineer, and other officials of Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Administration.
