The Union government of India has directed the Ministry of Railways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to use the soil and silt excavated from ponds and tanks for their infrastructure projects. This activity is part of the Amrit Sarovar Mission, conceived with the aim of conserving water resources across the country.
The Mission, initiated on 24th April 2022, is geared toward developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration. The goal is to create a total of 50,000 water bodies, each about an acre or more in size. Citizen and non-governmental resources are encouraged to aid this mission’s efforts.
Government Bodies Involved in the Amrit Sarovar Mission
The Amrit Sarovar Mission functions under a whole Government Approach with six departments involved – Department of Rural Development, Department of land resources, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Department of Water resources, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Changes.
The Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) is engaged as a technical partner. To accomplish its goals, the Mission works with State and District bodies, focusing on schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, XV Finance Commission Grants, PMKSY sub schemes like Watershed Development Component, Har Khet Ko Pani and the States’ own schemes.
Targets and Progress of the Amrit Sarovar Mission
The entire project is set to be completed by 15th August 2023. It is expected that around 50,000 Amrit Sarovars (water bodies) will be constructed across the country, each having approximately an area of 1 acre and a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic meters. People’s participation is vital for the mission’s success, involving local freedom fighters, their family members, martyr’s families, Padma awardees, and local citizens in all stages of construction. An annual National Flag hoisting will be organized on every Amrit Sarovar site on 15th August. So far, 12,241 sites have been chosen for construction, with work already underway on 4,856 of these.
What is Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav?
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative by the Government of India to celebrate and honor 75 years of independence, acknowledging its rich history, culture, and achievements. The Mahotsav is dedicated to the people who played integral roles in India’s evolution and are instrumental in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat or a self-reliant India.
The official journey of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on 12th March 2021. This marks a 75-week countdown to the 75th anniversary of independence, concluding a year later on 15th August 2023.
About Green India Mission and its Objectives
The Green India Mission is one of the eight missions under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change. Launched in February 2014, its goal is to increase forest/tree cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of forest/tree cover on another 5 million hectares of forest/non-forest lands. The objectives also extend to enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change through a mix of adaptation and mitigation measures.
Contrary to some misconceptions, launching a second Green Revolution and incorporating green accounting in Union and State budgets are not objectives of the Green India Mission. Instead, the mission focuses on eco-restoration, improvement of forest cover on non-forest lands, and enhancing ecosystem services like carbon sequestration.
