Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat, during a discussion under Rule 139 on the urgent public matter of “continuously declining groundwater levels and the gradual disappearance of traditional water harvesting structures in the state,” stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, continuous efforts are being made in Madhya Pradesh for water conservation and water augmentation.

He emphasized that “Water is life, water is the future, and it is the foundation of development and progress.”

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, a Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan (Water-Ganga Augmentation Campaign) was recently carried out as a mass movement. This included large-scale work on deepening, beautifying, and developing water structures. Rivers, streams, wells, ponds, and stepwells were rejuvenated. While last year the campaign lasted 30 days, this year it was extended to 90 days. This not only revived the water sources but also significantly improved the groundwater level in the state.

Minister Silawat noted that the declining groundwater level is a global challenge, which the Madhya Pradesh government has accepted seriously and is working continuously to resolve. He praised all the honorable members of the House for their constructive deliberations on the matter.

He stated that the government is constantly working to increase the irrigated area in the state. Two decades ago, the irrigated area was 7.5 lakh hectares, which has now grown to about 52 lakh hectares. Under CM Mohan Yadav’s leadership, in just 19 months, the irrigated area has increased by 7.5 lakh hectares. The target is to reach 65 lakh hectares in the next 2 years and 100 lakh hectares by 2030.

Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to realize the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of interlinking rivers. The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a significant step in this direction. It will transform the Bundelkhand region, turning it from a drought-stricken area to a fully irrigated and green region. The project costs ₹44,605 crore and will irrigate 8.11 lakh hectares, benefiting 10 districts, 200 villages, and 44 lakh people. It will also generate 103 MW of power and boost tourism.

The Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal interlinking project is another major initiative. With an estimated cost of ₹72,000 crore, it will benefit 13 districts and 3,150 villages in Madhya Pradesh’s Malwa and Chambal regions, providing irrigation to 6.14 lakh hectares and benefiting 40 lakh people.

The Mega Tapi Recharge Project, a globally unique groundwater recharge project, is being developed in cooperation with the Maharashtra government, with ₹7,313 crore of the ₹19,224 crore total cost allocated to Madhya Pradesh. This project will irrigate 1.23 lakh hectares and benefit 2 districts and 4 tehsils.

To support water conservation, the state has launched micro-irrigation projects and is using every drop of water efficiently. The pressurized pipe irrigation system is a unique initiative, along with major irrigation projects like Mohanpura and Kundaliya. For its efforts, Madhya Pradesh received the “National Water Award” in 2023.

More than 5,000 Amrit Sarovars (sacred water bodies) have been constructed in the state. The government is also deeply committed to environmental conservation, running the “One Tree in Mother’s Name” campaign, under which approximately 141 crore trees have been planted across the country, with a significant number in Madhya Pradesh.

Through these water conservation and management initiatives, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and CM Mohan Yadav, Madhya Pradesh is moving swiftly toward the goal of a developed India by 2047.

#Rule139, #PublicInterest, #LegislativeDiscussion, #UrgentDebate, #Governance, #PolicyDiscussion, #ParliamentNews