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Reinforcing the Government of India's commitment to water conservation and sustainable urban water management under the 'Catch the Rain' campaign, Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, on Thursday chaired a review meeting with officials of the AMRUT Mission and representatives of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) at Sankalp Bhawan, New Delhi.
During the meeting, Sahu reviewed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' contribution to the nationwide 'Catch the Rain' campaign through the Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) Programme under AMRUT 2.0, under which the Ministry is supporting 75 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country in planning and implementing scientific groundwater recharge interventions to strengthen urban water security and mitigate the risk of urban flooding. The meeting was attended by Isha Kalia, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Directors of the AMRUT Mission, and the Programme Specialist (Water & Environment) from the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The officials briefed the Minister on the outcomes of the National Interaction with 75 SAM Cities, held on 20 July 2026, and presented the key learnings and progress emerging from cities implementing the programme. Sahu also reviewed the achievements and lessons from SAM 1.0, which was implemented as a pilot initiative in ten AMRUT cities between 2022 and 2024. The pilot programme demonstrated the effectiveness of scientific groundwater management through improved groundwater levels, enhanced institutional capacity and increased public awareness on sustainable water conservation practices, laying the foundation for the nationwide expansion of the programme under SAM 2.0. During the review, it was noted that under SAM 2.0, a total of 870 sites have been mapped for key groundwater attributes, while 539 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), with an estimated project value of over 28 crore, have been prepared to facilitate the implementation of groundwater recharge structures across participating cities. Commending the progress made under the programme, Sahu emphasised that India's approach to water conservation must combine scientific innovation with traditional wisdom. He encouraged officials to document and promote indigenous, community-led water conservation practices that have sustained local ecosystems for generations, alongside modern groundwater recharge technologies. Emphasising the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that water conservation should become a "Jan Andolan", Sahu directed officials to strengthen community participation by actively engaging local communities, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), educational institutions and other grassroots organisations in the implementation of groundwater recharge initiatives. The Minister underlined that public participation would be instrumental in ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of the programme. He further directed officials to ensure regular monitoring of SAM projects, document the best-performing cities, prepare a compendium of best practices, expedite the construction of groundwater recharge structures during the ongoing monsoon season, and identify innovative, scalable models that can be replicated across urban India. Reaffirming the Government's commitment to building climate-resilient cities, Sahu stated that the integration of scientific groundwater management, modern technology and active community participation under the SAM Programme will play a pivotal role in strengthening urban water security and advancing the objectives of the 'Catch the Rain' campaign. (ANI)
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