Centre Urges States to Focus on Water Works Amid Rain Deficit
The Centre has directed states to prioritise water conservation and drought mitigation through the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G). This initiative aims to address the significant rainfall deficit, with over 40% of India's meteorological subdivisions reporting insufficient rainfall. The rural development ministry highlighted that 30% of the 9.3 million ongoing works under the programme are water-related, including farm ponds and check dams. Additionally, 315 districts vulnerable to El Nino have been identified for targeted interventions. Since the programme's launch on July 1, it has generated over 30 million person-days of employment. The ministry may consider further measures if rainfall deficiencies persist, as the effectiveness of current interventions remains uncertain.
Published 2 days ago • 27 Aug 2026, 09:10 PM IST