The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has intensified the nationwide ‘Catch the Rain – Where it Falls, When it Falls’ campaign under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, with large-scale initiatives aimed at water conservation, groundwater recharge and urban water body rejuvenation across the country.
The ministry said the campaign, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for sustainable water conservation, has mobilised nearly 900 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 27 States and Union Territories to strengthen urban water security and climate resilience through rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management.
As part of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan–Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 2.0, implemented in convergence with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, 1,99,278 groundwater recharge structures have been taken up in 79 Municipal Corporations, while another 73,036 recharge structures are under implementation across 738 Urban Local Bodies, significantly enhancing groundwater recharge and water conservation efforts in urban areas.
MoHUA said the Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) Programme under AMRUT 2.0 is also delivering tangible results through scientific aquifer mapping and targeted interventions. In Burdwan (West Bengal) and Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh), recharge pits integrated with injection borewells are helping channel rainwater into deeper aquifers. Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) has adopted rooftop rainwater harvesting systems with storage facilities to improve water conservation and groundwater replenishment, while Korba (Chhattisgarh) and Warangal (Telangana) have operationalised recharge structures ahead of the monsoon to maximise rainwater capture.
The ministry said the Water Body Rejuvenation (WBR) component of AMRUT 2.0 is restoring nearly 1.21 lakh acres of water bodies across urban India. The works include desilting, improving inlet and outlet systems, shoreline protection, landscaping and biodiversity enhancement to increase water storage, improve groundwater recharge and strengthen urban flood resilience.
Alongside these efforts, more than 12,750 acres of parks and green spaces are being developed under AMRUT 2.0. According to the ministry, these projects are expected to improve environmental sustainability, support groundwater recharge, reduce urban heat stress and create accessible public spaces that enhance the quality of life in cities.
MoHUA said the combined initiatives under AMRUT 2.0 are contributing to the vision of making Indian cities more water-secure while promoting climate resilience through sustainable urban water management.
Reiterating the importance of conservation, the ministry emphasised that “Every drop saved today is an investment in the water security of future generations.”
