The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organised a national interaction with 75 cities implementing the Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) programme under AMRUT. The event aimed to share progress, exchange best practices, and showcase completed groundwater recharge interventions.
On 20th July 2026, as part of the 'Catch the Rain' campaign, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), hosted a national interaction with 75 cities implementing the Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) programme under AMRUT. The event provided a platform for participating cities to share their progress, exchange best practices, and showcase completed groundwater recharge interventions aimed at strengthening urban water security.
Under the SAM programme, 75 cities are implementing various recharge interventions such as recharge shafts, injection wells, check dams, gabion walls, circular khals, and modular recharge pits. These initiatives contribute to sustainable rainwater harvesting, aquifer replenishment, and improved climate resilience.
The interaction was chaired by Smt. D. Thara, Additional Secretary, MoHUA, and moderated by Smt. Isha Kalia, Joint Secretary, MoHUA. Representatives from 75 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) participated, sharing their implementation experiences, key outcomes, challenges, and future plans for scaling up groundwater recharge interventions.
Several cities highlighted encouraging outcomes under the programme. For instance, one city plans to revive 95 additional defunct borewells following the success of its SAM interventions.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
