Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday, 26 July 2026, publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Modi highlighted water conservation efforts in Korba district during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, calling the recognition a matter of pride and inspiration for every citizen of the state.

Context

In his July 2026 edition of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi cited Korba district in Chhattisgarh as an example of outstanding water conservation and rainwater harvesting work carried out under the Catch the Rain campaign. The mention brought national attention to a district better known for its coal mines and thermal power plants than for environmental stewardship.

Responding on X, Chief Minister Sai wrote — translated from Hindi — that the Prime Minister had 'brought glory to Chhattisgarh at the national level' and extended 'heartfelt gratitude and felicitations on behalf of all residents of Chhattisgarh.' He added that under Modi's guidance, the state would make water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and nature preservation 'a broad people's movement' to strengthen the resolve of a Viksit Chhattisgarh [Developed Chhattisgarh].

Policy Backdrop

The Catch the Rain campaign was launched nationally in 2021 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to promote community-led rainwater harvesting and water source conservation across India. It works in tandem with the Jal Jeevan Mission, announced in 2019, which aims to provide functional household tap connections with sustained attention to source sustainability.

The Central government has consistently used Mann Ki Baat as a platform to spotlight district-level successes in water management, encouraging other regions to replicate models that blend traditional water structures with modern harvesting techniques. Korba's recognition follows this established pattern of linking grassroots implementation to national narratives on climate resilience and resource security.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of Korba's water conservation push are rural water user groups and communities across the district who depend on seasonal rainfall for agriculture and daily use. A national mention in Mann Ki Baat typically amplifies local initiatives, attracting administrative attention and potentially additional resources from central schemes.

For Chief Minister Sai's government, the Prime Minister's acknowledgement serves as political and policy validation, reinforcing the state's narrative of aligning with central development priorities. It also positions Chhattisgarh as a model for other mineral-rich, industrially active states seeking to demonstrate environmental responsibility alongside economic activity.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether the Centre follows the recognition with enhanced funding allocations under Catch the Rain or allied schemes such as AMRUT 2.0 for Chhattisgarh's districts. The state government has signalled its intent to scale up people's participation in water conservation, suggesting that new district-level targets or campaigns may be announced in the coming weeks.

With the monsoon season underway, the timing of the Prime Minister's mention and the Chief Minister's response underlines the urgency of maximising rainwater harvesting during the current season — a window that both central and state administrations have consistently framed as critical to long-term water security.