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National Water Security Initiative Launched Under MGNREGA

2025-09-30

Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Shri Chandrakant Raghunath Patil jointly launched the ‘National Initiative on Water Security’ at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. Union Minister of State Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Rural Development Secretary Shri Shailesh Singh, and senior officials attended, while representatives from rural blocks and district magistrates participated virtually.

Shri Chouhan said that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s guidance, water security has become a national priority under MGNREGA. Amendments to the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Act, 2005, now give precedence to water-related works in water-stressed rural blocks, making a minimum expenditure on water conservation and harvesting mandatory.

He noted that groundwater levels are continuously depleting and water has become one of the globe’s biggest challenges. Prime Minister Modi has led initiatives such as ‘Catch the Rain’, rainwater harvesting drives, and the construction of ‘Amrit Sarovars’ to emphasise the importance of water conservation.

Under the new policy:

In ‘over-exploited’ blocks, 65 per cent of MGNREGA funds will be used for water-related works.
In ‘semi-critical’ blocks, 40 per cent will go towards water conservation.
Even in blocks without water scarcity, at least 30 per cent of funds will be allocated to water initiatives.

Shri Chouhan highlighted that prioritising MGNREGA resources for water conservation will boost groundwater recharge and promote long-term sustainable water management.

Shri Patil added, “From the Rs 880 billion MGNREGA budget, 65 per cent will be directed to ‘dark zone’ districts, 40 per cent to ‘semi-critical’ districts, and 30 per cent to other districts for rainwater harvesting. This historic step will be vital for water security and rural development, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.”

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