Conducted as part of the landmark First Spring Census by the Union Government, the survey highlighted Bihar’s excellence, awarding it the number one position across India. The recognition comes with a prestigious prize, to be presented by the Jal Shakti Ministry on the occasion of World Water Day.

N. Vijayalakshmi, the state’s Planning Secretary, will accept the award, symbolizing Bihar’s triumph in grassroots water resource enumeration. The springs, concentrated in key districts including Nawada, Kaimur, Jamui, Rohtas, and Sheikhpura, sustain local water bodies vital for continuous farming cycles.

Until now, these hidden gems evaded official records, but the census has paved the way for their protection and development. Farmers stand to gain immensely as reliable water flows mitigate seasonal shortages, enhancing productivity in hilly terrains.

The success story is deeply rooted in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Jal Jeevan Hariyali campaign, a multi-pronged initiative blending water conservation with afforestation. Complementary national assessments, such as the Seventh Minor Irrigation Census and Second Water Bodies Census, have further commended Bihar’s rigorous data collection.

Looking ahead, experts anticipate deeper investigations into these perennial flows, potentially revealing underground aquifers or unique geological formations. Bihar’s model of community-led spring mapping could inspire nationwide replication, fortifying India’s water resilience against future uncertainties.

A target of renovating a total of 25,466 wells was set across the state, of which work on 25,254 wells has been completed. This represents a unique achievement of over 99 percent. The re-use of these wells has improved the availability of water for irrigation in rural areas. The government has also achieved notable success in the field of soak pit construction. A target of constructing 19,542 soak pits near the wells was set, of which 18,895 have been built so far. Nalanda district led the campaign, with the construction of all 1,939 planned soak pits.

Several districts, including Arwal, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, and Madhepura, have exceeded their targets, demonstrating the increasing public participation in water conservation in the state. According to officials from the Panchayati Raj Department, there has been unprecedented awareness among people about water conservation in villages. The government aims to establish a robust water conservation system in each panchayat to prevent any future water crisis.

District-wise soak pit construction figures are as follows: Araria-54, Arwal-335, Aurangabad-626, Banka-637, Begusarai-723, Bhagalpur-976, Bhojpur-640, Buxar-535, Darbhanga-513, Gaya-270, Gopalganj-800, Jamui-724, Jehanabad-606, Kaimur-401, Katihar-112, Khagaria-133, Kishanganj-41, Lakhisarai-188, Madhepura-127, Madhubani-95, Munger-811, Muzaffarpur-390, Nalanda-1939, Nawada-731, West Champaran-638, Patna-586, East Champaran-1707, Purnia-107, Rohtas-274, Saharsa-235, Samastipur-997, Saran-69, Sheikhpura-247, Sheohar-174, Sitamarhi-489, Siwan-631, Supaul-52, Vaishali-282.

All implementing departments have been instructed to observe Jal Jeevan Hariyali Day on the first Tuesday of every month. This year’s event is scheduled for August 5th.

The campaign is being implemented by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with 15 other stakeholder departments. The Rural Development Department has been designated as the nodal department to coordinate efforts among the various departments. The initiative encompasses 11 components.

The Environment Department is responsible for components 5 and 8, which involve constructing check dams and other water harvesting structures in small rivers, drains, and hilly areas, along with nursery creation and intensive afforestation.

The department has constructed a total of 26,482 check dams and water structures from the financial year 2019-20 to 2024-25. Furthermore, 20.20 crore plants have been planted under component 8. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, PK Gupta, stated that the target for this financial year (2025-26) is to plant 5 crore trees, with 1 crore already planted. In the financial year 2024-25, the target was 4.67 crore, and 4.14 crore plants were planted, achieving 90% of the goal.