Catch the Rain Campaign: Nandyal District Strengthens Water Conservation Infrastructure
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · IR
Why in news
The 'Catch the Rain' campaign is being implemented in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, from 4 July to 4 August 2026. The district has identified and initiated 2,103 water conservation works, restored 2,691 km of feeder canals, and revived 251 minor irrigation tanks, significantly boosting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
Background
The 'Catch the Rain' campaign is a national initiative by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, launched in 2021, with the tagline 'Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls'. It aims to promote rainwater harvesting and water conservation across India through community participation and scientific planning.
Key facts
Nandyal district is running the 'Catch the Rain' campaign from 4 July to 4 August 2026.
The campaign follows the principle: 'Catch the rain where it falls, when it falls'.
Scientific planning involved field surveys, mapping of water bodies, and technical assessments in all 489 gram panchayats.
Local communities and village elders were consulted to incorporate traditional knowledge.
Proposed works were placed before gram sabhas for transparency and community participation.
2,103 water conservation works were identified, approved, and initiated (100% start).
2,691 km of feeder and supply canals were desilted and restored to improve water flow.
251 minor irrigation tanks are under restoration; 225 completed.
The district strengthened its network of 22,221 farm ponds, 2,221 check dams, and 202 percolation tanks.
Restoration of feeder channels and structures is estimated to restore 3.27 TMC of tank storage capacity; new structures add 0.03 TMC.
Prelims pointers
- Catch the Rain campaign: Ministry of Jal Shakti
- Tagline: 'Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls'
- Campaign period: 4 July to 4 August 2026 (in Nandyal)
- Nandyal district: Andhra Pradesh
- TMC: Thousand Million Cubic feet (water storage unit)
- Gram Sabha: village assembly for community participation
- Water conservation structures: farm ponds, check dams, percolation tanks
Mains angles
- GS3: Water conservation and management – discuss the role of community participation and scientific planning in rainwater harvesting.
- GS2: Government policies and interventions – evaluate the effectiveness of 'Catch the Rain' campaign in addressing water scarcity.
- GS3: Disaster management – link water conservation to drought mitigation and climate resilience.