In News:

Launched in April 2022, Mission Amrit Sarovar is a Government of India initiative aimed at addressing water scarcity, particularly in rural areas, by constructing or rejuvenating 75 water bodies in every district, targeting over 50,000 ponds nationwide. As of October 2024, over 68,000 ponds have been completed.

Key Features:

• Minimum Pond Size: 1 acre with a water holding capacity of ~10,000 cubic metres.
• Community Participation: Sites approved by special Gram Sabha, with a Panchayat Pratinidhi supervising development.
• Multi-Ministerial Collaboration: Involves the Ministries of Rural Development, Jal Shakti, Panchayati Raj, Culture, Environment, and others.
• Technical Support: BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) is the technical partner, offering a dedicated portal and mobile app for tracking progress.
• Whole-of-Government Approach: Ensures coordinated implementation across ministries.

Railways' Involvement (2025 Initiative):

• Under Phase II of the mission, Indian Railways is tasked with:
  • Desilting existing water bodies or constructing new ponds near railway tracks.
  • Using excavated soil for railway embankments, where suitable.
  • Coordinating with district authorities and the Ministry of Rural Development to identify appropriate sites.
• The goal is to complete a significant number of ponds by August 15, 2025.
• Promotes climate resilience, ecological balance, and sustainable water resource management.