What happened
MoHUA Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs chaired a review meeting on AMRUT 2.0 Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) implementation under the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign. The meeting included AMRUT Mission officials and representatives of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and focused on programme progress, lessons from SAM 1.0, and directions for scaling, monitoring, and monsoon-season execution.
Background and earlier position
MoHUA describes SAM 1.0 as a pilot initiative implemented in ten AMRUT cities between 2022 and 2024. The pilot is treated as a foundation for scaling, with reported improvements in groundwater status, institutional capacity, and public awareness of sustainable urban water conservation practices (as per MoHUA’s review inputs).
What changed now
Under AMRUT 2.0, MoHUA supports SAM implementation in 75 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country. For SAM 2.0 planning work, MoHUA reports that 870 sites have been mapped for key groundwater attributes and that 539 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for groundwater recharge structures, with an estimated project value of over ₹28 crore. MoHUA also reviewed outcomes and learnings from a national interaction with 75 SAM cities held on 20 July 2026.
Related current affairs
- MoHUA holds national interaction with 75 AMRUT SAM cities under ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign
- Balod (Chhattisgarh) community-driven rainwater conservation boosts #CatchTheRain under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 2.0
- Mann Ki Baat English rendering: Catch The Rain campaign for water conservation
- Nationwide water conservation push under Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSJB: CTR) and related campaigns
- PM to participate in valedictory session of Departmental Summit on Water Security on 2 September
- DDWS urges States/UTs to facilitate student participation and document/publish best practices under JJM 2.0