Chhattisgarh WRD Has Become Growth Engine of India, Secretary WRD Rajesh Toppo Lists Out Two Year’s ‘Achievements’

On completion of 2 years the WRD Secretary Rajesh Sukumar Toppo claimed that it has taken forward development works under the mentorship of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and as a result, Chhattisgarh is the “Leading State in Central Government Schemes” and the Chhattisgarh WRD Has Become Growth Engine of India.

Upon completion of Two years in power, the Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department released a detailed document presentation on their remarkable “Achievements”

Addressing a press conference marking two years of BJP governance in Chhattisgarh, WRD Secretary Rajesh Sukumar Toppo credited Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership for the state’s Water Resources Department transformation.

Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo
Secretary, Water Resources Department While addressing media also highlighted the Achievements of the Past 2 Years.

In line with the intent of the Government, the core responsibility of the department is to promote water conservation and augmentation while developing irrigation capacity across the State, so that the benefits of irrigation reach the maximum number of farmers. Water is an important and valuable resource, without which life cannot be imagined. The Water Resources Department plays a vital role in strengthening water conservation and management for the overall development of the State and in ensuring water supply for agriculture, drinking water needs, and industrial purposes.

The department’s primary responsibility is not only to develop irrigation capacity in the State, but also to conserve and augment valuable water resources, conduct surveys for new schemes, undertake construction works, and maintain created assets. This also includes formulating flood control schemes and proposing water augmentation plans by assessing situations arising out of climate change.

WRD Secretary Rajesh Sukumar Toppo Highlighted The Major Achievements of past two years.

Increase in Irrigation Capacity

Over the past two years, the Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department has achieved an increase of 25,000 hectares in irrigation capacity, taking the total developed irrigation capacity to 21,76,000 hectares.

Water Harvesting and Conservation:
Under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan “Catch the Rain”, the Central Government has instituted the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards, which recognise community-driven water conservation efforts.

For outstanding work in the field of water conservation, Chhattisgarh received the Second Prize in the Sixth National Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards in the category of Excellent State Government. In the Urban Local Bodies category, Raipur Municipal Corporation secured first place. In addition, districts of the eastern zone—Balod, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, Mahasamund, Balodabazar, Gariaband, Bilaspur, and Raigarh—were also honoured with the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award in various categories.

Competitions:
To enhance awareness about water conservation, competitions such as Safalta Ki Mahagatha under Water Conservation 2.0 were organised.

Over the past two years, the achievements of the Water Resources Department include an increase of 25,000 hectares in irrigation capacity and recognition at the national level through various water conservation campaigns and awards. These achievements reflect the Government’s commitment to water conservation, harvesting, and improved water management.

Other Significant Achievements of the Department

Administrative approval of Rs 1,874.87 crore was granted for 477 schemes aimed at the expansion and restoration of irrigation facilities, covering an area of 73,601 hectares across the State.

Under Special Central Assistance, for the first time since the formation of the State in 2000, Central assistance amounting to Rs 896 crore was received last year and utilised for works.

Under the Augmentation Water Supply Scheme/Jal Jeevan Mission/AMRUT Mission, annual water allocation of 12.80 MCM for 18 industrial institutions and 43.30 MCM for potable water purposes has been made.

In 2024–25, against the target of 16,53,933 hectares for Kharif and Rabi irrigation, irrigation was achieved in 14,52,477 hectares, amounting to 87.82 percent of the target.

In the financial year 2024–25, payments exceeding Rs 400 crore were made towards long-pending compensation for land acquired from farmers for the construction of irrigation schemes, and payments of over Rs 100 crore were made towards long-pending compensation for forest land acquired for irrigation projects, thereby accelerating the construction of forest-affected irrigation schemes.

To accelerate the development of irrigation resources in the Bastar region, approval for 36 posts for the Chief Engineer’s office at Jagdalpur was obtained, and the office was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 15.04.2025.

A total of 83 Assistant Engineers have been appointed in the department.

Under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-3), consent was accorded for Rs 536 crore for the strengthening of nine dams that had been pending for the past three years.

A new Sub-Divisional Office (Electrical/Mechanical) of the Water Resources Department has been established at Kunkuri, which will facilitate the operation and maintenance of minor irrigation schemes in the region.

To accelerate the development of irrigation resources in the tribal-dominated Jashpur district, a separate Executive Engineer’s office was inaugurated and made operational at Kunkuri by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 22.10.2024.

A total of 115 irrigation schemes pending for several years under the department, involving the creation of the remaining irrigation potential of 76,094 hectares, are to be completed in a phased manner under the Atal Sinchai Yojana.

On 22.10.2024, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, during the meeting of the Sarguja Area Tribal Development Authority, dedicated various tourism and boating facilities at the Mayali Dam in Jashpur district.

On October 05 and 06, 2024, a two-day Jal Jagar Mahotsav was organised at Gangrel Dam in Dhamtari district, highlighting the importance of water conservation and augmentation.

Bemetara district received the Global Award 2024 for Water Transformation in the category of restoration of water bodies from the Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti.

At the Second All India State Water Ministers’ Conference 2025 held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh’s efforts towards public participation in water conservation were widely appreciated.

Probable Action Plan for the Next 3 Years

The Water Resources Department is fully alert to the State’s growing drinking water and irrigation requirements in the coming years. In this context, approvals are being issued for the survey, design, and implementation of new projects. The focus is on utilising rainwater that currently flows away unused, particularly in water-scarce regions. In pursuance of this objective, proposals have been made to interlink rivers to serve the larger goals of the State’s welfare and prosperity.

In the 33rd meeting of the Project Committee held during the tenure of the present Government, consent and in-principle approval were accorded for 14 new major irrigation projects in the State. These projects will help enhance irrigation capacity and strengthen groundwater levels. Through these projects, an additional irrigation potential of 1,00,000 hectares will be created in the State.

List of 14 New Major Irrigation Projects

1. Bastar district: Deurganv Barrage-cum-Lift Irrigation Project
2. Bastar district: Matnar Barrage-cum-Lift Irrigation Project
3. Raipur district: Mohmela–Sirpur Barrage Scheme on the Mahanadi River
4. Raipur district: Laying of pipeline from Samoda Barrage to Kumhari Reservoir under the Kumhari Reservoir Water Capacity Enhancement (Water Augmentation) Scheme
5. Bilaspur district: Ahiran to Gajarinalla Water Augmentation Construction Work
6. Bilaspur district: Chapratola Feeder Reservoir Project
7. Bilaspur district: Lift feeder irrigation construction work from Paraghat Diversion Scheme for augmentation of the Left Bank Canal of the Kharang Reservoir Scheme
8. Durg district: Sahgaon Lift Irrigation Project
9. Khairagarh–Chhuikhadan–Gandai district: Construction of Lamti Feeder Reservoir and canals
10. Rajnandgaon district: Drinking water supply scheme from Chouki Anicut to Mohara Anicut through pipeline at Mohara Anicut
11. Jashpur district: Bagiya Barrage-cum-Pressurised Lift Irrigation Project on the Maini River
12. Janjgir–Champa district: Parsahi Pressurised Lift Irrigation Project under Major Project Augmentation of the Hasdeo Bango Project
13. Korba district: Madwarani Barrage Construction-cum-Lift Irrigation Scheme.
14. Gariaband district: Pairi Project—Link Canal (Pipeline) Scheme from Sikasar Reservoir to Kodar Reservoir Additional Initiatives and Policy Framework

Survey work for the Bodhghat Dam Multipurpose Project and the Kewai–Hasdeo River Link Scheme is currently in progress.

The department is in the process of formulating the following new policies:
Sediment Management
Tourism Around Dam Sites
Vision Document

In June 2014, the department prepared a Vision Document outlining works to be undertaken up to 2017. The State Water Vision Document focuses on regional imbalances and expectations, as well as present and future challenges such as socio-economic upliftment, the global environmental perspective, and other contingent scenarios, including issues of national importance.

The Water Vision / 2047 – Road Ahead document includes aspects such as water governance, climate resilience and river health, water storage and water quality, water-use efficiency, and irrigation participation.

At present, the State’s water storage capacity stands at 7,900 MCM, which is targeted to be increased to 16,000 MCM by the year 2047. The plan also includes the objective of reducing the number of groundwater-stressed development blocks in the State to zero.