Chhattisgarh's '5% Model' Gains National Attention For Boosting Groundwater Levels

Korea district in Chhattisgarh is experiencing a significant rise in groundwater levels following the successful implementation of the 5% model. This initiative encourages farmers to dedicate 5% of their agricultural land to constructing soak pits, which facilitate the percolation of rainwater into the aquifer. The movement has seen a massive surge in participation, with villagers digging approximately 30,000 soak pits between February and May this year, representing a 15-fold increase compared to the previous year.

The project began last summer under the guidance of the then District Collector, who aimed to address declining water reserves in a region despite its status as a groundwater recharge zone. The initiative, branded locally as Aawa Paani Jhonki, gained additional momentum through the adoption of the 30-40 model, which involves digging trenches on barren land to arrest runoff. Officials note that data from the Central Ground Water Board indicates an improvement in groundwater levels, moving from 6.6 metres below ground level in 2024 to 3.89 metres in 2025.

The success of this community-led conservation movement has attracted national interest, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the initiative during his Mann Ki Baat broadcast in March. Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil has identified the strategy as a potential blueprint for national policy implementation. As communities across Korea district continue to expand these interventions, local sarpanchs report a visible reduction in the frequency of drying borewells, signaling a potential long-term reversal of the water crisis in the region.