Mandya district in Karnataka has achieved a remarkable feat, receiving a prestigious national award for its exemplary ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ (JSJB) campaign. This initiative, a crucial component of the broader Jal Shakti Abhiyan, was honored for its exceptional and effective execution of various water conservation projects.
According to K.R. Nandini, the CEO of Mandya Zilla Panchayat, this award celebrates the district’s successful efforts in conserving precious water resources, replenishing groundwater levels, ensuring sufficient water supply for agricultural needs, and actively combating water scarcity across the region.
Beyond the national recognition, the district will also be awarded a generous cash prize of ₹25 lakh, Ms. Nandini confirmed.
She further elaborated that the JSJB campaign organized Indian states into five distinct zones. Karnataka was placed in Zone Three, alongside Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. Among the seven districts from Karnataka that were nominated for this esteemed national award, Mandya proudly clinched the top spot within the Mysuru division.
Ms. Nandini explained that the core philosophy of the JSJB campaign was to foster robust community involvement in essential activities like water conservation and rainwater harvesting. It also aimed to raise public awareness about the critical importance of water and highlight effective conservation techniques.
Operating under the inspiring motto, ‘Unite for Water – Save Every Drop,’ the JSJB campaign focused on several key objectives. These included boosting groundwater levels, promoting widespread rainwater harvesting, cultivating a deep-seated culture of water conservation, enhancing climate resilience, and improving overall water quality.
The campaign itself was a vital part of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, a larger national mission with overarching goals. These objectives encompass eradicating water scarcity, optimizing rainwater flow and percolation into the ground, preserving and revitalizing existing water sources, encouraging water reuse and recycling, and developing or rejuvenating ‘Amrit Sarovars’ (sacred water bodies) to significantly improve water storage capacity, as detailed by the authorities.
Ms. Nandini lauded Mandya district’s performance, stating, “Mandya district has truly showcased exceptional commitment and results in both implementing these initiatives and engaging the public.”
Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, Mandya district meticulously completed an impressive 7,192 water conservation projects. These works, carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and other significant programs, were diligently recorded on the official Jal Sanchay portal.
The diverse range of projects included the construction of bunds (embankments), creation of borewell recharge pits and soak pits, comprehensive development of lakes, building check dams, desilting of tanks and streams, implementation of rainwater harvesting systems, restoration of open wells, and the revival of traditional water bodies. A central nodal officers’ team conducted thorough inspections of these works in the district prior to the award announcement, she added.