NEW DELHI, Aug 10: The Centre has said that 68,827 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed or rejuvenated across the country, strengthening efforts to conserve water, recharge groundwater and support rural livelihoods.
The water bodies are being used for several purposes, including irrigation, fisheries, biodiversity conservation, groundwater replenishment and livelihood related activities, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
As part of the ecological efforts surrounding the ponds, more than 24 lakh trees and plants have been planted to increase green cover and promote environmental sustainability.
The government also highlighted community participation under the initiative. More than 11.5 lakh people took part in activities organised around International Yoga Day, while over 12 lakh people were mobilised during Independence Day programmes held under the theme, ‘Ek Sarovar, Ek Sankalp – Jal Sanrakshan Ka’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission Amrit Sarovar on April 24, 2022, with the objective of developing and rejuvenating water bodies to ensure water availability for future generations.
The Ministry of Rural Development has subsequently revised the mission guidelines to strengthen the long-term upkeep of the assets. The revised framework provides for the creation and mapping of user groups for individual Amrit Sarovars, with participation from self-help groups and other local stakeholders.
These groups are expected to remain involved throughout the life cycle of the projects, covering planning, implementation, utilisation, maintenance and sustainability of the water bodies.
Gram panchayats, local institutions and communities have also been given an important role in managing and maintaining the assets, aimed at ensuring that the water bodies remain functional over the long term.
The government is using BhuPRAHARI, an artificial intelligence and satellite based monitoring system, to assess the impact of the programme. The Amrit Sarovar water observatory enables real-time monitoring and supports evidence based decisions regarding the water bodies.
An analysis covering the period from 2022 to 2024 showed encouraging changes. Despite lower rainfall during the period, the average surface area of ponds increased by 16.3 per cent, while the number of dry ponds fell by 42 per cent.
According to the government, the findings point towards improved water availability and greater resilience in rural areas.
An independent assessment conducted in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh also reported improvements in several areas.
The assessment found enhanced groundwater recharge in water-stressed regions, expansion of cultivable land and gains in agricultural productivity. It also recorded positive outcomes for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
The study further highlighted strong community ownership of the assets, particularly among gram panchayats and women-led self-help groups.
The government said the findings demonstrate that Mission Amrit Sarovar is contributing to water conservation, groundwater replenishment, environmental sustainability and the strengthening of livelihoods in rural areas.