New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI) Odisha has completed 905 rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures under the Catch the Rain 2026 campaign, the Jal Shakti Ministry said on Saturday.
Of these, 849 are rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) structures — 21 in government buildings and 828 in private buildings — while 56 are recharge shafts designed to enhance groundwater replenishment. “The significance of these figures lies not only in the number of completed structures. They reflect a transition from awareness to adoption. A household that installs a rainwater-harvesting system becomes a participant in local water management,” the ministry said.
“A recharge shaft creates a link between rainfall on the surface and water stored below the ground. Together, such interventions can strengthen irrigation and local water availability in areas experiencing increasing pressure on groundwater resources,” it said.
The ministry said Odisha has also prioritised restoration of traditional water bodies, with 98 tanks across all 30 districts taken up for renovation and desilting under the State Plan’s Improvement to Tanks and Minor Irrigation Projects Scheme.
“The restoration of these tanks is enhancing their storage capacity, enabling greater retention of monsoon runoff, supporting irrigation, improving local water availability, and contributing to groundwater recharge,” it said.
The ministry said the state intensified its efforts under the campaign following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call in the 135th episode of Mann Ki Baat on June 28 “to conserve every drop of rainwater”, promoting rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, restoration of traditional water bodies, and citizen participation.
According to the ministry, Odisha adopted a multi-pronged approach combining community outreach, behavioural change, institutional participation and creation of water conservation assets. It said 968 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, including street plays, folk performances, community engagement programmes and awareness campaigns on rainwater harvesting and groundwater conservation, were conducted across multiple districts.
Educational institutions have also emerged as important partners in the campaign, with awareness programmes, induction sessions and technical interactions introducing students to groundwater science, hydrological processes and rainwater harvesting systems, the ministry said.
It said plantation drives across irrigation projects, groundwater offices and water infrastructure sites are complementing water conservation efforts by improving soil stability, reducing erosion, enhancing infiltration and supporting healthier catchment ecosystems.
“Odisha’s Catch the Rain Campaign demonstrates how community participation can accelerate water conservation outcomes. By combining awareness generation, behavioural change, institutional engagement, restoration of traditional water bodies, and creation of groundwater recharge infrastructure, the state is building a comprehensive framework for sustainable water management,” the ministry said. PTI ADI ASD ASD
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