Karnataka set to launch statewide campaign on water security

Bengaluru: Every gram panchayat will have its own water security plan as part of an ambitious statewide campaign that Karnataka is set to launch on water conservation and management. 

The 'Water is Future' campaign "consolidates the state's most impactful water conservation and management efforts under a single, strategic mission of sustainable water governance", the minor irrigation department said, pointing out that Karnataka is India's second most arid state. 

In the first phase, the campaign will cover 525 gram panchayats across 16 districts and 27 taluks where groundwater is "overexploited" and "critical". 

"Every gram panchayat in the state will be assessed and categorised based on groundwater status. A state-wide ranking of all GPs as Critical (Red), Semi-Critical (Yellow) or Safe/Sustainable (Green) will be undertaken. This zonation is foundational for identifying areas that need urgent intervention," the minor irrigation department said in a note about the campaign.

"Building on this, a Master Atlas of Groundwater will be developed at the GP level - a geospatial database of wells, aquifers, recharge structures, and water bodies," it said. 

Using the zonation data and the Master Atlas, localised groundwater action plans will be prepared for each gram panchayat. "These will recommend site-specific, scientifically validated solutions - such as constructing new recharge structures, installing rainwater harvesting systems, regulating extraction in critical zones, and adopting region-specific crop-water management strategies," the department said.

These water security plans will be presented and debated at a special 'Neeriddare Nale Gram Sabha' (Water Gram Sabha) held on World Water Day (March 22). 

The government will also set up a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) at the Groundwater Directorate to coordinate the 'Water is Future' campaign. 

"Groundwater is the invisible foundation of Karnataka’s future. We're empowering gram panchayats and communities to take charge of their water security. Starting with the most stressed regions, this initiative will combine people’s participation with technology-driven monitoring to restore balance between extraction and recharge," Minor Irrigation Minister N S Boseraju said.