Atal Bhujal Yojana
The Atal
Bhujal Yojana is a groundwater scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on the 95th Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on
25th December 2019. The aim of the scheme is uplifting groundwater management
in 7 states of India.
Features of Atal Bhujal Yojana
- The scheme implementation responsibility is given to the Minister of water resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation which is now known as Jal Shakti Ministry.
- Half of the scheme is borne by the government and another half of the scheme is being financed by the world bank in the form of a loan.
- The scheme is also to be launched in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
- The scheme helps in encouraging community participation as planned by the government. It has been decided that 50% of the money will be given to Gram Panchayat and states as incentives for achieving the groundwater management targets.
- According to the data given by the Central Ground Water Board, the groundwater depletion is taking place at an alarming rate. Seeing this, the government has fast-tracked the implementation of Atal Bhujal Yojana.
Components of Atal Bhujal Yojana Scheme
- Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building Component to strengthen the institutional arrangements for sustainable groundwater management in the States like improving monitoring networks, capacity building, strengthening of Water User Associations, etc.
- Incentive Component for incentivizing the States for achievements in improved groundwater management practices namely, data dissemination, preparation of water security plans, implementation of management interventions through the convergence of ongoing schemes, adopting demand-side management practices, etc.
The objective of Atal Jal Bhujal Yojana
- The objective is the strengthening of the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management and bringing about behavioral changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater management.
- Bringing of the behavioral changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management.
Coverage
The scheme is aiming to improve the system of groundwater management through community participation in identified priority areas in 7 states like Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It has been estimated that scheme implementation will benefit across 8350 Gram Panchayats in 78 districts in these states.
Closing line
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the time of launch was saying that water was very important for Atal Ji and very close to his heart. Our government is striving for the implementation of his strong vision related to water.
