The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan announced on Monday, 25 May 2026 that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma chaired a district-level review meeting in Bharatpur, assessing the state of development works, drinking water supply, electricity, healthcare, and waterlogging — with a special emphasis on ensuring uninterrupted civic services during the peak summer season.

What the CM Directed

Sharma instructed district officials to guarantee uninterrupted drinking water, electricity and medical facilities to residents during the ongoing severe heat. He underlined that development work must proceed in tandem with the preservation of Bharatpur's historical heritage — a district renowned for its Mughal-era palaces, ancient water bodies, and the Keoladeo National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to prepare a permanent action plan to resolve the district's chronic waterlogging problem, and to intensify field visits to monitor on-ground conditions. He called for टीम भावना (team spirit) among officers, urging them to work collectively to deliver better services to ordinary citizens.

Context: Ancient Kunds and Vande Ganga Campaign

A key directive from the meeting was the revival of ancient kunds — traditional stepped water reservoirs that have historically served Bharatpur's communities — alongside the restoration of water structures under the Vande Ganga Jal Sanrakshan-Jan Abhiyan, the state government's flagship public-participation campaign for water-body conservation. The campaign mobilises community involvement to restore tanks, ponds, and other local water infrastructure across Rajasthan.

Bharatpur, situated in eastern Rajasthan, faces a dual seasonal challenge: acute drinking water scarcity in summer and recurring waterlogging during the monsoon. The district's dense network of historic water bodies makes their revival both a civic necessity and a heritage imperative.

Policy Backdrop

Rajasthan has a long tradition of state-led water conservation drives. The Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan, launched in 2016, set a precedent for building local harvesting structures through community and government partnerships. The current Vande Ganga campaign continues this lineage, expanding its scope to include the rejuvenation of derelict heritage water structures.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, who took office in December 2023 following the BJP's assembly election victory, has prioritised district-level governance reviews as a mechanism for direct accountability, directing field officers to translate policy mandates into measurable local outcomes.

Stakeholders and Impact

The immediate beneficiaries are Bharatpur's residents, who face power cuts and water shortages during May–June temperatures that regularly exceed 44°C in eastern Rajasthan. District officials have been put on notice to ensure service continuity without gaps.

Heritage conservationists and tourism stakeholders also stand to benefit from the directive on protecting Bharatpur's historical assets, which draw visitors to sites including the Lohagarh Fort and the bird sanctuary. Revival of ancient kunds could simultaneously ease groundwater stress and restore civic green spaces.

What's Next

The administration is expected to submit a permanent waterlogging action plan for Bharatpur, with field-visit reports under the Vande Ganga campaign serving as a monitoring tool. Progress on ancient kund restoration will be a key indicator of whether the district can structurally address its water vulnerabilities before the 2026 monsoon season. The review meeting signals that district-level accountability will remain central to the state government's governance approach through the summer months.