Telangana is leading the way in rainwater conservation in India. The state secured the top spot in the ‘Jal Sinchai Jan Bhagidari 1.0’ rankings, announced by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. It outperformed Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, which ranked second and third.
In the year 2024-25, Telangana completed 5.20 lakh rainwater conservation projects, the highest in India. These projects included building check dams, creating soak pits, and setting up rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. The success was due to the active involvement of local people. Even larger states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were left behind. The Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department led this initiative, with support from other departments, organizations, and individuals. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Minister Dhanasri Anasuya (Seethakka) provided special guidance.
Water conservation got priority in government programs for work and employment, helping Telangana achieve its top ranking. In the ‘Jal Sinchai Jana Bhagidari 1.0’ rankings, eight districts from Telangana were recognized among 67 nationwide. Three districts received Rs 2 crore each, three got Rs 1 crore each, and two received Rs 25 lakh each. Adilabad, Nalgonda, and Mancherial were awarded Rs 2 crore each. Warangal, Nirmal, and Jangaon got Rs 1 crore each, while Bhadradri and Mahabubnagar received Rs 25 lakh each.
Minister Dhanasri Anasuya expressed her happiness, highlighting that Telangana is now a national model for rainwater conservation. She noted that the state’s focus on raising groundwater levels, efficient rainwater use, and public involvement sends a strong message to the rest of the country.
