Chhattisgarh: 'Mor Gaon, Mor Pani' campaign to play key role in recharging groundwater in Balrampur
Balrampur, June 11
To make the best use of every drop of rainwater and ensure recharge of groundwater, the administration in Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh has taken up the task of creating awareness among people regarding the creation of soak pits in agricultural fields under 'Mor Gaon, Mor Pani' campaign. Under this campaign, farmers are being encouraged to dig soak pits in paddy fields through voluntary labour to maintain the level of groundwater. These soak pits will collect rainwater, resulting in maintaining soil moisture in the agricultural fields and eventually resulting in an improvement of the groundwater level.
Notably, the administration had carried out the development of 1,50,000 soak pits at several places last year by ensuring the active participation of the local population in the campaign. Earlier, in the absence of soak pits, rainwater would accumulate in the agricultural field and eventually flow to the nearby river through small drains.
"During the rainy season, our sole objective is to harvest rainwater. The longer we retain the water, the more it will percolate into the ground. Keeping this in mind, we have launched the 'Mor Gaon, Mor Pani' campaign in the district," said Balrampur Collector Chandan Sanjay Tripathi.
She further elaborated that all block-level officials are registering active participation in the campaign to make it successful.
"We will continue this work. The time is short, and the monsoons are just around the corner; if we dig small pits now, water will be retained in the farmers' fields. If water accumulates in one place, it will seep underground, resulting in groundwater recharge. By repeating this process, we can significantly improve the water table across the district--especially in the Balrampur area, where water scarcity is visible," Tripathi said.
"Following the instructions received from the administration, farmers are being motivated to develop soak pits in the agricultural fields so that the moisture of the soil can be maintained," said Sarpanch Brijlal Lakra.
According to a local, Sanjay Minj, "After learning about the benefits of soak pits in the agricultural field, I have dug it into my field, and the move is making the land fertile."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive approach. As someone who works in water conservation, I appreciate how this combines traditional knowledge with modern administrative push. Soak pits are simple but effective - they reduce runoff and increase percolation. Hope other districts take note.
Finally, some practical work happening! We keep hearing about water crisis but rarely see such community-led solutions. 1.5 lakh soak pits last year is no joke - that shows real commitment. But I hope they also monitor the groundwater levels scientifically to measure actual impact.
This is the kind of climate adaptation we need to see more of. Simple, low-cost, and locally-driven. The monsoon timing is critical - they're working fast. Would love to see this replicated in other water-stressed regions. Great work, Chhattisgarh! 🌱
Love the participatory approach - involving farmers and sarpanchs directly. But I wonder if they also considered maintenance? Soak pits can get clogged over time. Hope there's a long-term plan beyond just digging them before monsoons. Still, a great start! 👍
As someone from a farming family in UP, I can say this is exactly what we need. Our village water table has dropped dangerously. If every district does this, we might actually solve the water crisis. Chhattisgarh is setting an example! 👏
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