Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of 41st edition of PRAGATI and reviewed nine key infrastructure projects spread across 13 states having a cumulative cost of more than Rs 41,500 crore.

What is PRAGATI?

• PRAGATI is the acronym for the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

• It is a three-tier system consisting of the PMO, Union government secretaries and chief secretaries of the states.

• The system has been designed by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with the help of National Informatics Center (NIC). 

• The platform is aimed at addressing the common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the central as well as state governments.

Its objectives are:

i) Grievance redressal

ii) Programme implementation

iii) Project monitoring.

The PRAGATI platform bundles three technologies: 

i) Digital data management

ii) Video-conferencing

iii) Geo-spatial technology. 

• It offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the secretaries of government of India and the chief secretaries of the states. 

• With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned central and state officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation.

• It is a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders. It is also an innovative project in e-governance and good governance. 

• The first meeting was held on March 25, 2015.

• During PRAGATI meetings, 328 projects having total cost Rs 15.82 lakh crore have been reviewed till now.

Highlights of 41st PRAGATI meeting

• In the meeting, nine key infrastructure projects were reviewed.

• The PM advised ministries and state governments to use the PM Gati Shakti portal for planning of infrastructure projects. He insisted on expeditious resolution of land acquisition, utility shifting and other issues for timely completion of projects.

• He emphasised on ensuring proper coordination between central government ministries and state governments.

• The PM also reviewed Mission Amrit Sarovar and undertook real time view of Amrit Sarovar sites through drones in Kishanganj, Bihar and Botad, Gujarat.

Mission Amrit Sarovar

Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched on April 24, 2022. It is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country. It had initially planned a target to construct or rejuvenate 50,000 Amrit Sarovar ponds across India by August 15, 2023. Now, an additional 50,000 Amrit Sarovar ponds will be constructed. Every Amrit Sarovar will have a pondage area of 1 acre with a water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic metre.

There is no separate financial allocation for Mission Amrit Sarovar. It will be implemented through states and districts with convergence from various ongoing schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), 15th Finance Commission Grants, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayi Yojna sub schemes such as Watershed Development Component, Har Khet ko Pani, etc.

Once the mission is completed, the expected increase in water holding capacity is going to be around 50 crore cubic metres, the estimated carbon sequestration will be about 32,000 tonnes per year and expected increase in ground water recharge is over 22 million cubic metres.

Moreover, the completed Amrit Sarovars are evolving as centres of community activity and participation.

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