CM Mohan Yadav joins 'Mann Ki Baat' event at Orchha; PM Modi highlights MP's water conservation drive
Bhopal, July 26
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Sunday that he had listened to the 136th edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann Ki Baat" programme at Kanchana Ghat in Orchha, the tourism and religious centre of Niwari district, along with local residents and public representatives.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister noted that the Prime Minister had spoken about transforming the 'Catch the Rain' campaign into a people's movement, the successful launch of Vikram-1 that was taking India's space achievements further towards self-reliance, and the inspiring performances of the country's athletes that continued to motivate the nation.
Inspired by the Prime Minister's call, remarkable work had been carried out in Madhya Pradesh for the third consecutive year under the 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan', Chief Minister Yadav said.
He expressed confidence that the benefits of these efforts would be reflected in the 'Catch the Rain' campaign that began on July 4.
During the radio address, the Prime Minister specifically praised Sidhi district in Madhya Pradesh for the outstanding work being done in water conservation through active public participation.
Under the 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan' guided by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, extensive measures have been taken in Sidhi to link water conservation with development and livelihoods.
As part of the campaign, 1,489 farm ponds have been constructed in the district. These structures have substantially improved rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and irrigation capacity, ensuring a more reliable water supply for agriculture.
"As many as 12,983 water conservation projects have been completed in Sidhi so far. As a result, the district's water storage capacity has risen from 13,573,874 cubic metres to 18,056,486 cubic metres -- an increase of 4,482,612 cubic metres. This additional capacity has the potential to irrigate about 896 hectares of extra land and meet the daily water requirements of nearly one lakh people," a press statement said on Sunday.
Sidhi has also successfully turned water conservation into a source of livelihood.
Fish farming is currently being practised in 211 ponds, while Singhada (water chestnut) cultivation is under way in 178 ponds.
These activities have generated direct economic benefits of around Rs 80 lakh for fishermen's groups, self-help groups and individual farmers.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I wish the article gave more details on how the fish farming and singhada cultivation are actually helping local communities. Rs 80 lakh sounds nice, but is it reaching the small farmers or just the big players? Would love to see some ground-level impact stories. Still, better than nothing! 🌾
As a farmer from a drought-prone region, I can tell you that water conservation is the only way forward. Sidhi's model should be replicated in every district. But we need sustained effort, not just a campaign. Mann Ki Baat is great for awareness, but the real work happens when politicians leave and bureaucrats take over. Let's hope this isn't just another photo-op.
Interesting to see a state-level CM actively joining the PM's radio program. The 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan' seems to be yielding real results – 4.48 million cubic metres increase in storage is no joke. India needs more such localized, community-driven projects. Keep it up, MP! 🇮🇳
While this is commendable, I wonder about the maintenance of these 1,489 farm ponds. In my experience, many such structures get silted up or damaged within a couple of years if there's no proper upkeep. The government should also focus on training local communities in pond maintenance and water budgeting. Otherwise, it's just numbers on paper.
Wonderful to see water conservation getting so much attention! The fish farming and water chestnut cultivation are smart moves – it turns conservation into livelihood. My village in Karnataka
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