Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as one of the frontrunners in the nationwide Catch the Rain 2026 campaign, significantly scaling up water conservation efforts through a combination of public awareness, rainwater harvesting infrastructure, groundwater recharge and restoration of traditional water bodies to strengthen the state’s long-term water security.
According to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the state’s campaign received a major boost following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal during the 135th episode of Mann Ki Baat, where he urged citizens to conserve every drop of rainwater. Odisha has since translated the call into a statewide movement by mobilising government agencies, educational institutions and local communities to adopt sustainable water management practices.
The campaign has witnessed extensive public participation, with 968 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities organised across the state. These included street plays, folk performances, community outreach programmes and awareness campaigns promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater conservation.
Khordha emerged as the most active district, organising 230 awareness programmes, followed by Anugola with 124. Kataka, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur and Subarnapur conducted 62 activities each, while Mayurbhanj organised 60. Nayagada and Puri hosted 50 awareness events each, and Ganjam organised 20, highlighting the campaign’s widespread reach.
Educational institutions have played a pivotal role by introducing students to groundwater science, hydrological processes and rainwater harvesting techniques through awareness sessions, induction programmes and technical interactions. The initiative aims to nurture a generation of environmentally conscious citizens capable of contributing to sustainable water management.
On the infrastructure front, Odisha has completed 905 rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures across the state. These include 849 Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting (RRWH) systems—21 installed in government buildings and 828 in private establishments—along with 56 recharge shafts designed to enhance groundwater replenishment.
Ganjam leads the state with 330 rooftop rainwater harvesting structures, followed by Khordha (121), Mayurbhanj (94), Kataka (62), Sambalpur (54), Sundaragada (53), Kendrapara (48), Jharsuguda (25), Bargarh (16), Puri (13), Nayagarh (12), Anugola (10), Nabarangpur (7) and Balangir (4). Of the recharge shafts, Jajpur accounts for 45, Kendrapada 10 and Sundaragada one.
Alongside new infrastructure, the state has intensified efforts to restore traditional water bodies. Under the State Plan’s Improvement to Tanks and Minor Irrigation Projects Scheme, renovation and desilting work on 98 tanks across all 30 districts is underway. The initiative is expected to improve water storage capacity, retain monsoon runoff and enhance groundwater recharge.
Plantation drives around irrigation projects, groundwater offices and other water infrastructure sites are also being undertaken to improve soil stability, reduce erosion and increase water infiltration, thereby strengthening local ecosystems and supporting long-term water conservation.
Officials said the campaign marks a transition from awareness to action, with households, educational institutions and communities increasingly participating in water conservation initiatives. The installation of rainwater harvesting systems and groundwater recharge structures is expected to improve groundwater levels and ensure greater water availability for agriculture and domestic use.
By combining public participation, infrastructure development and ecological restoration, Odisha’s Catch the Rain 2026 campaign is emerging as a comprehensive model for sustainable water management. The initiative reinforces the message that lasting water security can only be achieved through collective efforts by governments, institutions and citizens to conserve every drop of rainwater.
