Raje launches 4th phase of MJSA, will cover 4,000 villages

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Wednesday launched the fourth phase of the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan (MJSA), the campaign for water harvesting and conservation in rural areas of the state.

The phase will cover 4,000 villages of Rajasthan.

Raje said the state has become an example of water conservation as ground water level has increased after the introduction of the MJSA.

"The campaign will change the picture of the state in future," she said.

The chief minister informed that the National Green Tribunal has recommended the implementation of the scheme in other states as well.

"The NITI Ayog has made a special reference to the scheme in national water index report," she said, adding that the Union Agriculture Ministry has invited the state to give a presentation on the MJSA so that other states can also implement it.

An average of 4.66 feet ground water level has increased in the state. 63 per cent hand pumps and 20 per cent tube wells have been revived in villages which were covered under the MJSA, Raje said.

She said water storage structure will be created in 4,000 villages in the fourth phase launched Wednesday.

In the last three phases, more than 3.80 lakh water storage structures have been created in 12,056 villages, the chief minister said.

Rural Development and Panchayti Raj minister Rajendra Rathore, chairperson of Rajasthan River Basin Authority Sriram Vedire, Chief Secretary D B Gupta and others were present on the occasion.

The MJSA, launched in January 2016, is a multi-stakeholder programme aimed at making villages self-reliant in the context of mitigating basic water needs with emphasis on drinking, domestic and live stock water requirements.

Creation of water storage structures, revival of old structures, watershed development, water conservation and water harvesting-related activities are carried out through convergence of schemes of various departments and works are implemented through people's participation.