Chhattisgarh's Narwa Project Breathes New Life into Dying Canals, Ensuring Water Conservation and Rural Development

In a remarkable initiative aimed at water conservation and rural development, Chhattisgarh's Narwa project has brought dying canals back to life, rejuvenating water channels and improving groundwater levels. The project, which began in mid-2019, has already revived an impressive 6,395 rivulets, culverts, and water resources in the forested areas of the state. Under the flagship programme of Narwa-Garwa-Guruwa-Baari, the Narwa project focuses on the revival of canals to boost the rural economy. The state forest department, in collaboration with the Chhattisgarh Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), has played a key role in implementing this innovative concept. Using GIS-based data, the project selected sites for the treatment of drainage lines and watercourses. Forest personnel received expert training on mobile applications, GIS-based surveys, and natural resource management. Catchment Area Treatment plans were meticulously prepared to reduce run-off, prevent soil erosion, and enhance groundwater levels. The project also involved interactive sessions with village communities to ensure their participation and support. Chhattisgarh's intricate network of water bodies had suffered due to forest degradation, changes in land use, and increased pressure on natural ecosystems. This led to rapid water run-off, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and reduced land productivity. However, the Narwa project has successfully safeguarded the fertile topsoil, maintained groundwater levels, and ensured perennial streams that cater to the needs of the ecosystem and local communities throughout the year. The project has not only improved the quality of forest cover but also provided irrigation facilities to local villagers, contributing to sustainable rural development. With over 130 lakh groundwater augmentation structures constructed since 2019, the initiative has not only restored watercourses but also increased groundwater levels by more than 20 cm in surrounding regions. The treated canals now serve as a year-round water source for wildlife, agriculture, fisheries, and local inhabitants.