• Works on over 68,000 ponds have been completed under Mission Amrit Sarovar as of January 2025, Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on February 11.

• It has enhanced surface and groundwater availability across various regions. 

• These ponds have not only addressed immediate water needs but also established sustainable water sources.

Mission Amrit Sarovar

• Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched in April 2022 to construct or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district, totaling 50,000 across the country. 

• Each pond will have a pondage area of minimum of one acre with water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic meters. 

• This initiative has made significant progress in addressing the critical issue of water scarcity. 

• It plays an important role in increasing the availability of water, both on surface and underground. 

The groundwater resources assessment by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with state governments, shows a significant rise in groundwater recharge due to sustained conservation efforts. Recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures increased from 13.98 billion cubic meters (BCM) in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024, reflecting the success of water conservation such as Mission Amrit Sarovar and the role of tanks, ponds & water conservation structures in sustaining groundwater levels.

• Phase II of Mission Amrit Sarovar is envisaged to continue with a renewed focus on ensuring water availability, with community participation at its core, and aims to strengthen climate resilience, foster ecological balance, and deliver lasting benefits for future generations.

• The works are being taken up by districts and states 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 the Watershed Development Component, Har Khetko Pani, besides states’ own schemes. 

• Public contributions like crowdfunding and Corporate Social Responsibility are also allowed for the work.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)