Towards Water-Secure Cities: MoHUA Accelerates ‘Catch the Rain’ Campaign Across Urban India

Prelims-testable facts

• 01The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is implementing the 'Catch the Rain' campaign across urban India under AMRUT 2.0.
• 02AMRUT 2.0 aims to strengthen water security and climate resilience through rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and sustainable water management.
• 03A total of 1,99,278 recharge structures have been taken up by 79 Municipal Corporations under Jal Shakti Abhiyan–Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 2.0.
• 0473,036 recharge structures are being implemented across 738 Urban Local Bodies to contribute to groundwater recharge and water conservation efforts.
• 05The Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) Programme is being implemented under AMRUT 2.0 to enhance groundwater recharge through scientific aquifer mapping and targeted interventions.
• 06Burdwan in West Bengal and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh have successfully integrated recharge pits with injection borewells to channelize rainwater into deeper aquifers.
• 07Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh has implemented rooftop rainwater harvesting systems with storage facilities for water conservation and groundwater replenishment.

Trap alerts

• Most people think the 'Catch the Rain' campaign is a standalone initiative, but actually it's being implemented under AMRUT 2.0 to address urban India's water security challenges.
• Most people think Jal Shakti Abhiyan–Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 2.0 is a separate program, but actually it's a convergence of efforts between MoHUA and MoJS to accelerate the 'Catch the Rain' campaign.