Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel Launches Well Recharge Campaign from Banaskantha District

Banaskantha : Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel today inaugurated the Well Recharge Campaign under the nationwide initiative “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2025” from Chodungri village in Dantiwada taluka of Banaskantha district. The campaign, focused on “Water Conservation through Public Participation”, was launched in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shri Shankarbhai Chaudhary, and several other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, CM Bhupendra Patel emphasized that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has always believed in involving people’s power in the development journey of the nation. With the motto “Water of the fields must stay in the fields; water of the village must remain in the village”, PM Modi has inspired extensive water conservation efforts across the country. Gujarat, once a water-deficient state, has now become water-surplus due to massive public participation in water harvesting, construction of check dams, and recharge wells. Today’s campaign aims to enhance groundwater levels by constructing over 50,000 recharge wells in Banaskantha, with 25,000 of these supported by Banas Dairy.

CM Patel noted that water holds a sacred place in Indian culture—seen as a blessing from God and rivers worshipped as mothers. He further highlighted that natural farming and chemical-free agriculture are being encouraged to boost soil and human health, aligning with PM Modi’s “Back to Basics” vision. He also praised the success of Operation Sindoor and saluted the bravery of Indian armed forces.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil shared alarming statistics: while India hosts 18% of the world’s livestock, it has only 4% of drinking water. Of the 700 districts in India, 150 are in the “dark zone” due to depleted groundwater, including Banaskantha. To address this, the government has launched continuous initiatives like Amrit Sarovar, the Narmada Yojana, and river-linking projects.

Speaker Shri Shankarbhai Chaudhary added that Banas Dairy has taken up the responsibility to construct 25,000 recharge wells, offering 50% subsidy to farmers. He called on everyone to support the four-year campaign and commit to a 10-year water conservation roadmap. He also noted the success of seed ball efforts to green the region’s hills.

Also present were Ministry of Jal Shakti MD Archana Verma, who detailed the ministry’s efforts, and Banaskantha District Collector Mihir Patel, who delivered the welcome address.