India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, or MoHUA, held a meeting with 75 cities. The National Institute of Urban Affairs, known as NIUA, helped organize the talk. This meeting supports a nationwide campaign called Catch the Rain.
The cities discussed a special water program called Shallow Aquifer Management, or SAM. This program runs under the national AMRUT plan. During the event, local leaders talked about their progress in saving rain water. They also shared how they refill underground water pockets.
How Cities Are Refilling Underground Water
The SAM program helps cities plan their water projects. These cities use smart methods to capture rain. They direct the rain into the soil to fill up dry underground pools. This helps the cities get more water and survive bad weather.
Currently, 75 cities are building different water tools. These tools include deep shafts, recharge wells, and small dirt dams. They also use circular stone walls and modular pits to trap water. The rainwater seeps into the ground through these structures.
Local Success Stories Across India
Many cities reported good news from their water projects. For instance, the city of Korba plans to fix 95 dried-up wells. They decided this after their first water projects succeeded. In Vizianagaram, local officials saw underground water levels rise.
Nagpur wants to build 100 more water-saving structures during this rainy season. Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar used these projects to stop city street floods. The rainwater now drains quickly into the soil instead of staying on the roads. This also helps refill the groundwater.
The Goal For Better Water Management
Additional Secretary Smt. D. Thara led the meeting. Joint Secretary Smt. Isha Kalia guided the conversation. Representatives from 75 local city boards attended the event to share their future plans.
Groundwater experts at the meeting said that local neighborhoods must help look after these water systems. Public care ensures that the water pools stay clean and full for years. The housing ministry plans to support more scientific and community projects. The program currently supports 75 urban areas across the country.
