Jal Shakti Minister Reviews Jal Sanchay Progress In Gujarat

04 Feb 2026 CW Team

The review was held in the context of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, launched in September 2024 from Surat in the virtual presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the objective of turning water conservation into a mass movement through public participation, in line with the vision of ‘catch the rain where it falls, when it falls’.

Senior officials present included V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Manoj Kumar Das, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, and officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Government of Gujarat.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state government is fully committed to implementing Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and has rolled out supportive measures, including a scheme offering 90 per cent financial assistance for recharging old borewells. He also highlighted examples from Banaskantha district, where community participation has led to the creation of innovative recharge structures. MLAs have been advised to allocate Rs 50 lakh per constituency from MLA Local Area Development funds for water conservation works.

District Collectors from Banaskantha, Kutch and Rajkot presented updates on on-ground initiatives undertaken under the programme.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil urged District Collectors to accelerate water conservation activities ahead of the monsoon, stressing effective use of MGNREGA funds, convergence of government schemes, and involvement of CSR initiatives, NGOs and forest departments. He added that the Ministry of Jal Shakti is extending technical support to districts for planning and execution of conservation works.

The Minister emphasised a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ensure Gujarat continues to lead in water conservation through sustained district-level coordination.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil recently chaired a video conference to review the progress of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari across districts in Gujarat, along with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The meeting was attended by all District Collectors of the state. The review was held in the context of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, launched in September 2024 from Surat in the virtual presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the objective of turning water conservation into a mass movement through public participation, in line with the vision of ‘catch the rain where it falls, when it falls’. Senior officials present included V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Manoj Kumar Das, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, and officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Government of Gujarat. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state government is fully committed to implementing Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and has rolled out supportive measures, including a scheme offering 90 per cent financial assistance for recharging old borewells. He also highlighted examples from Banaskantha district, where community participation has led to the creation of innovative recharge structures. MLAs have been advised to allocate Rs 50 lakh per constituency from MLA Local Area Development funds for water conservation works. District Collectors from Banaskantha, Kutch and Rajkot presented updates on on-ground initiatives undertaken under the programme. Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil urged District Collectors to accelerate water conservation activities ahead of the monsoon, stressing effective use of MGNREGA funds, convergence of government schemes, and involvement of CSR initiatives, NGOs and forest departments. He added that the Ministry of Jal Shakti is extending technical support to districts for planning and execution of conservation works. The Minister emphasised a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ensure Gujarat continues to lead in water conservation through sustained district-level coordination.

Infrastructure Urban

20 Mar 2026

Lemon Tree Hotels Signs Resort In Lonavala Maharashtra

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited (LTHL) has signed a licence agreement for Lemon Tree Resort in Lonavala, Maharashtra, with the asset to be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of LTHL. The resort will offer 50 well appointed rooms and will include a restaurant, banquet, meeting room, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. The company described the addition as part of its strategy to expand branded resort offerings in key getaway destinations. Lonavala, located in the Sahyadri hills, is a popular leisure destination in western India known for scenic landscapes and a ..

Infrastructure Urban

20 Mar 2026

Kalai Chettinad Art And Architecture Festival At The Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace Chettinad will host Kalai, the Chettinad Art and Architecture Festival, a four-day, three-night immersive celebration of the artistic legacy of Chettinad from three to six April 2026. The event has been organised by Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) and will take place across restored heritage properties in Chettinad. It will be designed to offer guests a layered experience of place, structure and story that connects art, architecture and living traditions. The festival aims to present a confluence of global influences and local aesthetics. Kalai has been curated i..

Infrastructure Energy

20 Mar 2026

SJVN Reaches One bn Units At 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Project

SJVN Limited (SJVN) has reached a milestone with its 1,000 megawatt (MW) Bikaner Solar Power Project by generating one bn units of electricity on 20 March 2026. The achievement underscores the company's role in supplying clean and sustainable energy to the national grid. The generation milestone was recorded within months of the project commencing operations and highlights rapid performance from the new facility. The Bikaner project, located in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, has been developed and implemented by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) under the Central Public Sector Undertaking Schem..