Raipur, Chhattisgarh has once again created history in the field of water conservation and community participation. In the results of Jal Sanchay Janbhagidari 1.0 (JSJB), the state has secured the second position at the national level. This achievement is not just an honor, but a living example of the confluence of water management and public participation. So far, 4,05,563 works have been completed in the state, transforming water conservation into a mass movement.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, while congratulating the people of the state on this success, said that this achievement is the foundation for safe water resources for future generations. He said that in the field of water conservation, this is proof of that collective consciousness which has made Chhattisgarh an inspiration for the country.
Chhattisgarh has also established its excellence in urban bodies of the state. Raipur Municipal Corporation has won the national award by securing the top position in the entire country. Here, through 33,082 works, not only water conservation has been promoted, but it has also been made a model of urban development based on public participation. The Chief Minister said that this achievement is the result of the collective efforts of the citizens of Raipur and the corporation administration.
Chhattisgarh’s performance has also been excellent at the district level. In Category-1, Balod got the first position, Rajnandgaon got the second position and Raipur got the third position. These three districts will receive an amount of ₹2-2 crore as a reward. At the same time, in Category 2, Mahasamund, Baloda Bazar and Gariaband will be honored with ₹1-1 crore. In Category 3, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Balrampur, Dhamtari, Surajpur and Durg will be awarded prizes of ₹25-25 lakh for their outstanding participation. This shows that water conservation has been adopted as a priority throughout the state.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that this honor is not only of the administration, but of every farmer, every woman, every youth and every public representative who has resolved to save every drop of water. He said that public welfare is possible only through public participation and Chhattisgarh has proved it.
He also clarified that this achievement is a direct result of the state’s ‘Public Dialogue and Public Participation based Good Governance Policy’. The Chief Minister called water conservation the most important basis for the state’s agricultural based economy and long-term development.
On the national honor received by Raipur Municipal Corporation, the Chief Minister especially appreciated the corporation administration, public representatives and citizens. He said that this example of water conservation through community cooperation in the urban area is exemplary for the entire country and other municipal corporations can also learn from it.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister appealed to the people of the state not to consider this campaign of water conservation as just a government program, but to make it a part of their lifestyle. He said that the conservation of every drop is the guarantee of future water security.
This achievement of Chhattisgarh once again proves that when the government and the public work together, the impossible also becomes possible. The success of JSJB 1.0 has not only brought honor to the state, but has also made it a national model of water management.