Delhi: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a significant policy shift under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) aimed at boosting water conservation efforts across India.
Speaking on the decision taken during the Council of Ministers meeting, Chouhan said, “It was decided that a fixed portion of the funds allocated under MGNREGA would be spent on water conservation works. Following this directive, MGNREGA will now ensure that in overexploited and critically overexploited blocks, 65% of the funds are utilized for water conservation projects.”
This move underscores the government’s focus on addressing water scarcity in rural areas while simultaneously generating employment under MGNREGA. By earmarking a majority of the funds for water conservation in stressed regions, the initiative aims to create sustainable solutions for irrigation, groundwater replenishment, and rural livelihood development.
