Union Minister C R Patil Launches ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain 2025’ in Panchkula

Chandigarh, March 22, 2025 – Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil launched the nationwide Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain 2025 campaign at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula on Saturday. He assured that Haryana will receive its rightful share of water, with an upcoming meeting between the state’s Chief Minister and counterparts from other states to resolve inter-state water disputes.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Choudhry were present at the event. Patil praised Haryana’s budget initiatives for 2025-26, which focus on water conservation and storage. He stressed the importance of public participation, stating that both the central and state governments will work together to tackle Haryana’s water scarcity.

The Union Minister highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of turning water conservation into a people’s movement. He warned that future generations will judge today’s leaders based on their efforts to preserve water. He also shared that Haryana traders in Surat have pledged resources to support water conservation in their home state.

Patil credited Modi’s leadership for addressing water scarcity, noting that 25 lakh women have been trained to test water quality under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He criticized past governments for failing to provide piped water, forcing women to fetch unsafe water from distant sources.

Under the Har Ghar Jal scheme, every individual is guaranteed 55 liters of water per day. Patil emphasized the urgent need for rainwater harvesting and groundwater conservation to secure the future. He reiterated Modi’s principle: “Water for villages should stay in villages, and water for fields should stay in fields.”

Senior officials, including Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Ministry of Jal Shakti Secretary Ashok Meena, and Haryana BJP President Mohan Lal Badoli, attended the event.