Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top-performing state in the country’s flagship Amrit Sarovar Mission, completing construction of 19,978 ponds aimed at strengthening water conservation, rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability.Launched in April 2022, the programme seeks to revive and develop traditional water bodies in rural areas to address challenges such as groundwater depletion, erratic rainfall patterns and increasing water scarcity.According to the rural development department, UP leads the national tally, followed by Madhya Pradesh (5,838) and Karnataka (4,054). Within the state, Hardoi tops the list with 1,202 Amrit Sarovars, followed by Azamgarh (797) and Gorakhpur (734).Principal secretary, rural development, Saurabh Babu, told TOI on Saturday that the project was being implemented under close monitoring through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS).“State govt aims to construct Amrit Sarovar in all 57,000 gram panchayats. This is like an asset creation in the rural precincts,” he said.Officials said the department accelerated the restoration of neglected and encroached ponds by combining traditional water management practices with modern scientific techniques.Under the scheme, each Amrit Sarovar is developed over a minimum area of one acre and is designed to hold approximately 10,000 cubic metres of water. Existing ponds and natural water accumulation sites are being scientifically restored through proper slope engineering, strengthened embankments and rainwater harvesting structures to maximise water storage and groundwater recharge.The project also places significant emphasis on ecological restoration. Green belts comprising medicinal, fruit-bearing and shade-giving native trees such as neem, peepal, banyan and arjun are being developed around the water bodies.“These plantations are helping strengthen environmental balance, prevent soil erosion and promote biodiversity in rural landscapes,” Babu said.Officials said besides enhancing water availability, the project would provide better irrigation facilities and eventually greater stability in agricultural production.The construction and maintenance of Amrit Sarovars have also generated employment for local workers, particularly through rural development programmes. Moreover, active participation and monitoring by gram sabhas have helped transform these water bodies into valuable community assets.Officials said the Amrit Sarovars may also potentially serve as natural safeguards against extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves, droughts and irregular rainfall.The second phase of the mission is also gaining momentum. Odisha has identified 7,347 sites for development under Phase II, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 2,549 and Madhya Pradesh with 1,314.
