Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat Visits Dungarpur District – Performs ‘Jal Pujan’ at Beneshwar Dham Anicut under ‘Vande Ganga’ Campaign

Jaipur : On Thursday, Rajasthan’s Water Resources Minister Shri Suresh Singh Rawat participated in a Jal Pujan (water worship) ceremony at the Beneshwar Dham Anicut in Dungarpur district, as part of the ‘Vande Ganga’ water conservation campaign. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the campaign was launched on World Environment Day and Ganga Dussehra, signifying a renewed commitment to environmental protection and water conservation.

He reiterated the pledge made on World Environment Day—to plant 110 million trees across Rajasthan with public participation. Emphasizing the urgent need to tackle rising temperatures and recurring droughts in the state, the Minister said tree plantation is a crucial solution for environmental balance. He also shared the state government’s proactive approach of constructing stepwells, ponds, and anicuts to recharge groundwater levels.

The Minister appealed to the public to clean and maintain traditional water structures such as stepwells, ponds, wells, and drains to promote water conservation. He stated, “Water is sacred to us because every great civilization has flourished along riverbanks.”

After the ceremony, the Minister planted a Peepal tree under the ‘Hariyalo Rajasthan’ (Greening Rajasthan) initiative, symbolizing a message of environmental protection. He also visited the Hari Mandir at Beneshwar Dham and prayed for the peace, prosperity, and well-being of the state.

On this occasion, former MP of Dungarpur-Banswara Shri Kanak Mal Katara emphasized that while the government is actively working towards water conservation, it is everyone’s responsibility to save every drop of water and avoid wastage. He stressed that “Water is life, and by conserving it today, we secure the future—for ourselves, our animals, birds, and future generations.”

Former Aaspur MLA Gopichand Meena, in his welcome address, urged for public participation in this mass awareness drive, emphasizing that all existing ponds and anicuts must be cleaned and preserved to prevent future water shortages.

The program concluded with social worker Ashok Patel Ranoli delivering the vote of thanks and administering a pledge for water conservation. The Jal Pujan ritual was performed with Vedic chanting by Acharya Himanshu Bhatt, and the event was moderated by Mahendra Upadhyay.