Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Andhra Pradesh’s community-driven water conservation initiatives, describing them as “exemplary”, during the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
Highlighting the nationwide ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign, the Prime Minister said Andhra Pradesh had emerged as a model in restoring traditional water bodies and promoting rainwater harvesting through people’s participation. He cited Nandyal district, where all gram panchayats have joined the campaign by reviving village ponds and making them functional again for water conservation and groundwater recharge.
Modi also singled out Vizianagaram district for its Jaladhara–Jalaharathi initiative, saying both rural and urban local bodies had delivered encouraging results under the campaign. He noted that the nationwide drive, launched on July 4, had accelerated rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, restoration of ponds, tanks, wells and stepwells, besides promoting large-scale tree plantation.
The Prime Minister said enthusiastic participation by villages, cities, panchayats and social organisations had transformed the campaign into a people’s movement. He pointed out that abandoned borewells were being converted into groundwater recharge structures, while desilting of ponds and restoration of traditional water bodies were enhancing water storage capacity.
Appealing to citizens to contribute individually, Modi urged every family and community to take responsibility for conserving at least one pond, well or stepwell in their neighbourhood. “Every drop of water saved today is the greatest asset for future generations,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s appreciation was welcomed in Vizianagaram, where the Jaladhara–Jalaharathi programme was implemented under the guidance of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, with District Collector B.R. Ram Sundar Reddy overseeing its execution. The initiative focused on groundwater recharge and restoration of ponds, canals and other minor water bodies through coordinated efforts of the Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Irrigation and Groundwater departments under MGNREGS, with active participation from public representatives and local communities.
According to official data, 8,995 works were sanctioned, of which 8,973 have been completed, involving an expenditure of ₹318.57 crore and generating 1.28 crore person-days of employment. The programme removed 109.90 lakh cubic metres of silt, cleared weeds from 82.48 lakh square metres, and desilted 2,090 km of canals. Restoration works have also begun in 193 of the 214 identified villages to improve groundwater recharge, with officials estimating an increase of 0.048 metres in the average groundwater level.
Collector Ram Sundar Reddy said the Prime Minister’s appreciation was a matter of pride for the people of Vizianagaram and would motivate the district to undertake more initiatives for environmental protection and water conservation.
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