Catch the Rain Campaign Gathers Steam

National Water Mission to set up Rain Centres in every district to encourage RWH adoption. To enumerate all water bodies to free them of encroachments

In a bid to nudge all stakeholders, particularly RWAs, local municipal bodies and states, to conserve water, the National Water Mission has kicked off a campaign taglined "Catch the Rain - Where it Falls, When it Falls".

Encouraging the creation of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and Artificial Recharge Structures, expanding existing water storage capacity apart, the campaign also seeks to address the major issue of urban flooding that has plagued many cities.

The intent is to take a leaf out of the crowd sourcing concept and get people to a Crowd Saving mindset through this campaign which will also see the setting up of Rain Centres in every district and municipal area of the country, Mr G. Asok Kumar, Additional Secretary & Mission Director at National Water Mission, MoWR, RD & GR said on Friday. These Rain Centres will be manned by qualified persons to help RWAs seeking to set up RWH and recharge structures, he added addressing a webinar discussion on the campaign.   

While the five big dams in the country held anywhere around 250 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) of water, the quantity of water stored in underground aquifers is about 400 bcm. Only 8% of rainfall is harnessed while the rest if wasted as runoff

 The campaign was initiated in march this year when the Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (WR, RD & GR), Government of India, Mr U.P. Singh, observed that while the five big dams in the country held anywhere around 250 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) of water, the quantity of water stored in underground aquifers is about 400 bcm.

Pointing out that the country still receives an average of more than 1,000 mm rainfall though its distribution is skewed, he said it is a matter of concern that only 8% of rainfall is harnessed while the rest is wasted as runoff.    

Significantly, the campaign also seeks to enumerate (checked with revenue records) and removed encroachments from all water bodies in the districts, the additional secretary added.

The Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu had in a recent message, urged the citizens of the country to participate in catch the rain campaign and conserve water.

The Vice Chairman NITI Ayog had last month communicated to Chief Secretaries asking all states to support the campaign while the Water Mission had written to all Central Ministries/ Departments, AAI, Railway Board, Army, Air Force, Navy, Universities, IITs, IIMs, Central Armed Police Forces etc. to create rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures and support NWM in its catch the rain campaign.