Structure:

Introduction: (up to 30 words) Emphasize the need for water conservation in Karnataka

Body: (up to 100 words) Bring about the Jalamrutha scheme and what it provides for. Write about the need for community driven initiatives in water conservation.

Conclusion: (up to 30 words) Conclude by focusing on how the scheme provides for drought-proofing measures, including protection and rejuvenation of water bodies.

Supporting Points:

The state government had declared 2019 as the Year of Water.

1. About 41% of the state’s population is living in urban areas.
2. The cities require a huge volume of water to meet the demand.
3. The state government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 500 crore for the implementation of Jalamurtha scheme.
4. Under the scheme, the government aims to rejuvenate 14,000 water bodies and building 12,000 check-dams in next two years.

About Jalamrutha Scheme:

Jalamrutha is a community-driven movement for water conservation in the state, initiated by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department.

1. Under the scheme, scientific approaches will be deployed for water budgeting, water harvesting and water conservation through the use of geospatial data, satellite imagery, topographical and geological data.
2. Since the scheme is community drive it will be implemented by key line departments of the government, Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and private sector institutions.
3. The water conservation strategy under the scheme comprises of four components viz. water literacy, rejuvenation of water bodies, creation of new water bodies as well as the development of watersheds and afforestation activities.
4. The scheme will operate on a four-tier institutional structure with planning and execution committees being set up at village, taluk, district and State levels.
5. A State-level committee headed by the Chief Minister will be established for strategic monitoring, converge policy and programmatic guidance and the committee will design water conservation strategies for the State in consultation with all stakeholders.

Community groups who want better water supply if supported by the Gram Panchayat to build and run their own water supply schemes can ensure equitable supply of water. This is has been seen in other parts of India and around the world. Similarly, if water conservation is also decentralized and community driven, the best practices of decentralized planning for water conservation to increase the water table and revive local water bodies can be achieved. It can ensure tapping upper layers of water, building new systems to draw water from numerous springs, streams, rivers, and lakes.