Odisha has earned praise from the Centre for setting up 10,000 rainwater harvesting structures in the state to aid water conservation and groundwater recharge ahead of the onset of the southwest monsoon under “Catch the Rain” campaign.

Hailing the achievement of the Odisha government, Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tweeted: “Brilliant effort Odisha! 10,000 Rain water harvesting structures in 75 days across 114 local bodies is a commendable feat. This campaign run under Mukhya Mantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan will help #CatchTheRain at a mammoth scale across the state.”

The campaign, which will benefit 114 towns, was completed in 75 days under the Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan Yojana (Mukta).

“The Mukta scheme is an urban wage employment scheme that provides opportunities to needy people. The scheme is launched by the chief minister,” said a media release issued by the housing and urban development department of the Odisha government on Friday.

Under the scheme, the state government built 5 to 10 rainwater harvesting structures in each ward in small towns, while under municipal corporations, it has built 20 to 25 such structures.

The campaign began on April 15 with the aim of constructing rainwater harvesting structures to facilitate in-situ water conservation and ground water recharge in all Odisha towns before the onset of southwest monsoon.

These are low-cost structures specially designed based on hydro-geological parameters.

The government plans to build at least 15,000 rainwater harvesting structures and has earmarked Rs 70 crore for this project.

“Though we are a water surplus state and we receive rainfall that varies from 1,200mm to 1,800mm, most of the rainwater goes waste as we have not developed harvesting structures. Besides, Odisha also faces drought like situation because of the erratic nature of rainfall.

“The groundwater level has also depleted. Now with the construction of the rainwater harvesting structures, we can reap the benefits as the groundwater level will always remain charged,” said an official.