If the river is saved, water will be saved and if water is saved, life will be saved: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai

Chief Minister inaugurated ‘Source Festival 2026’ and state level workshop

Emphasis on scientific and time-bound action plan for conservation of river sources and catchment areas

River conservation work will be done on five main pillars of mapping, conservation, recharge, public participation and action plan.

MoU with National Water Academy, Pune will strengthen capacity building in the field of water conservation

Modern geospatial technology will be used in collaboration with Antrix Corporation, Bengaluru.

Water resources will be monitored and analyzed using modern technology in approximately 1540 square kilometer area of ​​Kunkuri tehsil.

Chief Minister releases book ‘Neer-Nari-Nidhi’ on water conservation,

Rivers are not just a source of water, but the lifeblood of our civilization, culture, agriculture, and prosperity. The state’s life-giving rivers have played a crucial role in making Chhattisgarh a rice bowl. Preserving the rivers that have nurtured our civilization and brought us prosperity is a shared responsibility. Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai said this today while addressing the “Srot Mahotsav 2026” and state-level workshop held at Omaya Garden in the capital, Raipur. 

Chief Minister Shri Sai inaugurated the workshop by lighting a lamp. The workshop’s objective was to identify and conserve the source and catchment areas of the state’s rivers, promote water harvesting and groundwater recharge, and transform river conservation into a widespread public campaign. The workshop included discussions with subject matter experts on water conservation, river rejuvenation, and water management, along with members of state and district-level committees and representatives from various districts.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai stated that if rivers are saved, water will be saved, and if water is saved, life will be saved. In this spirit, the state government is prioritizing the conservation of river sources and catchment areas, pursuing a comprehensive action plan that integrates scientific approaches, modern technology, traditional knowledge, and public participation.

The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh’s geographical, economic, and cultural identity is deeply intertwined with its rivers. Many of the state’s rivers, including the Mahanadi, have enriched agriculture, livelihoods, and social life. The existence of rivers depends on the health of their source and catchment areas. Therefore, river conservation cannot be limited to just their flow areas. We must develop a comprehensive conservation plan by understanding the river’s entire ecosystem, from its source to its source.

He said that committees have been formed at the state and district levels to effectively advance river conservation and restoration work. At the Source Festival, a concrete action plan will be developed, guided by subject matter experts and drawing on experiences from various fields, so that it can be implemented on the ground in a timely manner.

‘River conservation campaign will move forward on five major pillars’

Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that for river conservation in the state, work will be carried out on five key pillars: mapping, conservation, recharge, public participation, and action planning. Each river and its catchment area will be scientifically mapped. The river’s origin, the nature of its flow area, land use changes, and factors affecting the river’s natural flow will all be studied.
He stated that based on scientific mapping and studies, a plan will be developed to conserve the river’s entire ecosystem. This will include forest and vegetation conservation, soil erosion prevention, conservation and revival of traditional water structures, construction of new water storage structures as needed, and groundwater recharge.

The Chief Minister said that rainwater is the foundation of our river systems and groundwater. Therefore, instead of allowing rainwater to quickly drain away, measures must be taken to infiltrate the ground in greater quantities. This will improve groundwater levels, revitalize water sources, and help maintain long-term water flow in rivers.

River conservation must become a mass movement.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the goal of water conservation cannot be achieved through government efforts alone. Active participation of society is crucial. The villages and people living along the river banks have a direct connection to the river, so they must be made key partners in the river conservation process.

He urged members of district-level committees to form local committees in villages along rivers and, with the support of panchayats, advance river conservation and restoration work. Local communities should be informed about the river’s condition, its importance, and conservation measures. When communities themselves take responsibility for protecting their rivers and water sources, such efforts are more effective and sustainable.

The Chief Minister also urged experts to convey scientific and technical knowledge related to water conservation to the public in simple and easy language. He said that technology is meaningful only when its benefits are visible on the ground and ordinary citizens can understand and adopt it in their lives.

The Chief Minister stated that human civilizations have flourished along the banks of rivers. Rivers have provided water, food, and livelihoods to human life for generations. Therefore, as a civilized society, it is our responsibility to protect rivers and water sources for future generations. He expressed confidence that the conclusions drawn from the Source Festival 2026 will prove crucial in developing an effective roadmap for river conservation and water security in Chhattisgarh.

Two important MoUs for water conservation and modern technology

During the program, two important MoUs were signed to strengthen the state’s institutional and technical capacity in the field of water conservation. The MoU with the National Water Academy, Pune, will promote training and capacity building for officials and field staff involved in water conservation and water management. This will help disseminate information on modern water management, innovative technologies, and scientific methods to the grassroots level.
Similarly, the MoU with Antrix Corporation, Bengaluru, will utilize ISRO’s expertise and modern geospatial techniques for scientific analysis and monitoring of water resources. In the initial phase, approximately 1540 square kilometers of Kunkuri tehsil will be studied, monitored, and analyzed using advanced geospatial techniques.

Chief Minister Mr. Sai said that combining scientific data obtained from modern technology with local experience and traditional knowledge can lead to more effective water conservation plans. This will also help in tailoring solutions to specific areas and monitoring their results.

Release of the book “Neer-Nari-Nidhi”

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai released the book “Nir-Nari-Nidhi,” a book on water conservation, at the event. This book highlights the concepts of protecting water, women’s participation, and conserving water resources. The book documents various experiences, efforts, and innovations related to water management and conservation.

Identification and conservation of water sources is essential for future water security: Dr. Vinod Tare

Addressing the workshop, Dr. Vinod Tare, founder of CGanga and professor at IIT Kanpur, said that to ensure water security, it is essential to identify and conserve the origins of rivers and the water sources that nourish them. Rainwater is the primary source of rivers and groundwater. Rainwater must be controlled and infiltrated underground in greater quantities to increase groundwater levels and secure water for the future.

Dr. Tare said that water conservation requires a combination of ancient knowledge, local and traditional experiences, and modern science and technology. Only an action plan that integrates these three can form the basis for long-term water conservation and sustainable water use.

“Science-based and site-specific solutions will be developed,” said Secretary, Water Resources Department.

Secretary of the Water Resources Department, Mr. Rajesh Sukumar Toppo, stated that the objective of Source Festival 2026 is to develop a scientific, practical, and time-bound action plan for the conservation of the source and catchment areas of the state’s rivers. Studying downstream flow alone is not sufficient for river conservation. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the river’s entire ecosystem, including the source area, land use, soil moisture, groundwater recharge, vegetation, and soil erosion.
He explained that the workshop is discussing nine river clusters separately. These clusters will develop site-specific and science-based solutions tailored to the specific conditions of the region. The focus will be on clearly identifying the problem, identifying solutions, implementing them, and establishing a timeframe for assessing results.

Mr. Toppo emphasized that water conservation is not just about infrastructure construction. Local community participation is key to the long-term success and sustainability of conservation efforts. Based on the suggestions and conclusions from the workshop, further work will be done towards developing a time-bound river source restoration roadmap for Chhattisgarh.

The workshop was attended by Dr. Vinod Tare, Founder of C Ganga and Professor at IIT Kanpur, subject experts associated with Namami Gange Mission, Professors from NIT Raipur, members of state and district level committees, Collectors and officers of various districts and experts working in the field of water and river conservation.