Karnataka set to launch statewide ‘Water is Future’ campaign on water security
Bengaluru: In a bid to tackle the growing challenges of water scarcity and promote sustainable water management, Karnataka is set to launch a statewide initiative, ‘Water is Future’ campaign.
Karnataka, the second most arid state in India, faces significant water stress, particularly in its rural regions. To address this challenge, the Water is Future campaign aims to create a water security plan for every gram panchayat across the state, consolidating the government's water conservation initiatives under a unified, strategic mission focused on sustainable water governance.
The first phase of the campaign will cover 525 gram panchayats across 16 districts and 27 taluks where groundwater resources are considered "overexploited" or in a "critical" condition, as reported by Deccan Herald.
"Every gram panchayat in the state will be assessed and categorised based on groundwater status. A state-wide ranking of all GPs as Critical (Red), Semi-Critical (Yellow) or Safe/Sustainable (Green) will be undertaken. This zonation is foundational for identifying areas that need urgent intervention," the minor irrigation department said in a note about the campaign.
Following the assessment, a Master Atlas of Groundwater will be developed, which will provide a geospatial database of vital water resources in each gram panchayat. This data will include details on wells, aquifers, recharge structures, and water bodies.
Using this information, tailored groundwater action plans will be created for each gram panchayat. These plans will recommend site-specific, scientifically validated solutions for water security, including the construction of new recharge structures, the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, and the regulation of water extraction in critical areas. Additionally, region-specific crop-water management strategies will be adopted to ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju emphasised that groundwater is the invisible foundation of Karnataka’s future. “We're empowering gram panchayats and communities to take charge of their water security. Starting with the most stressed regions, this initiative will combine people’s participation with technology-driven monitoring to restore balance between extraction and recharge,” DH quoted him as saying.
The government will also set up a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) at the Groundwater Directorate to coordinate the 'Water is Future' campaign.
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Gross GST collections rise 6.2 pc to over Rs 1.93 lakh cr in January
New Delhi (PTI): Gross GST collections rose 6.2 per cent to over Rs 1.93 lakh crore in January, mainly on higher revenues from imports, sources said on Sunday.
Total refunds declined 3.1 per cent to Rs 22,665 crore.
Net Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues, however, grew 7.6 per cent to about Rs 1.71 lakh crore in January.
Cess collection (from tobacco products) in January stood at Rs 5,768 crore. This compares to Rs 13,009 crore in collections in January last year when a cess was levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods such as cars, and tobacco products.
Effective September 22, 2025, GST rates on about 375 items were slashed, making goods cheaper. Also, a compensation cess is levied only on tobacco and related products, as opposed to luxury, sin and demerit goods earlier. The lowering of GST rates has impacted revenue collections.
Gross tax collections from domestic transactions grew 4.8 per cent to Rs 1.41 lakh crore, while import revenues were up 10.1 per cent to Rs 52,253 crore in January.
