PM Narendra Modi’s last Pragati meeting minutes show that he has encouraged all entities involved in the waterways, such as highways and railways, to map their projects in accordance with the Amrit Sarovar scheme’s instructions.

The government is aiming to solve two problems by fast-tracking the building of over 50,000 Amrit Sarovar (ponds) each measuring over one acre. Each such pond should be at least one acre in size with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic meters.  According to the minutes, it would be a win-win situation because the material dug out for the Amrit Sarovar can be used by the ministries for civil works.

The government is targeting to address two concerns-catching the runoff rainwater and meeting the scarcity of soil for infrastructure projects. Shortage of soil has been a concern for infrastructure projects across several states, and more so when there are orders from different benches of the green tribunal and local authorities.

LEARNING FROM HOME/ WITHOUT CLASSES/ BASICS

Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation(PRAGATI)

PRAGATI is a unique integrated and interactive platform through which the Hon’ble Prime Minister oversees the implementation of various government schemes, grievances, state and central related projects & programs by directly interacting with all stakeholders through Videoconferencing on a single platform.

PRAGATI is aimed at a culture of Pro-Active Governance through online video conferencing & meetings and Timely Implementation of projects and schemes. It is also a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders. A built-in feature of PRAGATI is that these directions will remain in the system for further follow-up and review till the finality of the matter.

The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing, and geospatial technology. It is also an innovative project in e-governance and good governance. Accordingly, with the three objectives of Grievance Redressal, Programme Implementation, and Project Monitoring. The application will be accessible to the Secretaries of the Government of India and the State Chief Secretaries.

MISSION AMRIT SAROVAR

With a view to conserving water for the future, the Prime Minister has launched a new initiative named Mission Amrit Sarovar on 24th April 2022.

The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This Mission has been launched with a whole of government approach in which six Ministries /Department namely- Dept of Rural Development, Department of land resources, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate changes.

WATER CRISIS IN INDIA

A NITI Aayog report says that India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history with about 60 crore people facing high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water. the report pointed out that with nearly 70 percent of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index.

The report said 40 percent of the population will have no access to drinking water by 2030 and 21 cities, including New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad will run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million people. According to the report, 52 percent of India’s agricultural area remains dependent on rainfall, so the future expansion of irrigation needs to be focused on last-mile efficiency.

India has 16% of the world’s population, but only 4% of its freshwater resources. Under the scheme of the Constitution, ‘Water’ is basically a State subject and the Union comes in only in the case of inter-state river waters. List II of the Seventh Schedule, dealing with subjects regarding which states have jurisdiction.