Gujarat CM approves ₹144 crore fund for rainwater harvesting projects

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AHMEDABAD, Gujarat: The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, has given in-principle approval for allocating ₹144.32 crores for implementing more than 7000 rainwater harvesting projects in Ahmedabad on Friday, August 2. These projects will be implemented in the northwest, southwest, and west of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will plan these projects under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shahari Vikas Yojana. In its endeavour, AMC will be aided by the Khaangi Society Janbhaagidari Yojana (Private Society Public Participation Scheme). Under this scheme, the projects aimed at public welfare in private societies are being implemented through a public-private partnership model. The funding for the project is provided in a 70:20:10 ratio.

It has been reported that 7497 societies have applied for rainwater harvesting projects with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Of this, 3180 applications have come from the northwest zone, 2500 from the west zone, and 1617 from the southwest zone.

CM Patel also announced this through his X (formerly known as Twitter) account. He posted, “The government is moving ahead in a planned manner to collect rainwater and raise the groundwater level. Under this, in-principle approval has been granted for an allocation of ₹144.32 crore.

These works will be organised by the AMC under the ‘Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shahari Vikas Yojana’ from the Private Society Public Participation scheme.

Construction of percolating wells on a PPP basis in residential societies, multi-storeyed houses, and apartments will be undertaken by taking up the campaign of rainwater harvesting and groundwater table recharge in Ahmedabad.” (translated from Gujarati)

To expedite the progress of rainwater harvesting projects in the state, the government is promoting the construction of percolation wells under the Groundwater Recharge Policy. The project is being pursued through a public-private partnership model. The amount of ₹144.32 crore allocated by the Gujarat CM is nearly 70 per cent of the estimated project cost as submitted by the AMC.