Raipur, August 19, 2026: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai today said that rivers are not merely sources of water but are the lifelines of our civilization, culture, agriculture, and prosperity.
Addressing the ‘Srot Mahotsav 2026’ and the state-level workshop held in Raipur today, Chief Minister Sai remarked that the state’s life-sustaining rivers have played a pivotal role in making Chhattisgarh the ‘Rice Bowl’ of the country. Conserving the rivers that have nurtured our civilization and brought us prosperity is a collective responsibility.
The workshop aims to identify and conserve the origin points and catchment areas of the state’s rivers, promote water harvesting and groundwater recharge, and transform river conservation into a massive public movement.
During the workshop, subject matter experts in water conservation, river rejuvenation, and water management deliberated alongside members of state and district-level committees and representatives from various districts.
Chief Minister Sai emphasized that if rivers survive, water survives; and if water survives, life survives. With this spirit, the state government is prioritizing the conservation of river origin points and catchment areas, moving forward with a comprehensive action plan that integrates a scientific approach, modern technology, traditional knowledge, and public participation.
He noted that Chhattisgarh’s geographical, economic, and cultural identity is deeply intertwined with its rivers. Many rivers in the state, including the Mahanadi, have enriched agriculture, livelihoods, and social life. The existence of rivers depends on the health of their origin points and catchment areas; therefore, river conservation efforts cannot be limited merely to the river’s flow path. We must formulate a holistic conservation plan that encompasses everything from the river’s source to its entire ecosystem, he added.
