Gujarat MLAs Get Rs.2.5 Cr Grant Boost

Gandhinagar, Gujarat – In a bold step towards sustainable rural development, the Gujarat government has increased the annual grant for MLAs under the Decentralized District Planning Program to ₹2.5 crore from the financial year 2025-26 — a move that enforces accountability and urgency in grassroots development, with a sharp focus on water conservation.

This enhancement in fund allocation comes with a new directive: every MLA must earmark at least ₹50 lakh from this grant for collective water conservation initiatives. The decision is a powerful reinforcement of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s vision that “water is life,” and aligns with the nationwide “Catch the Rain” campaign. It is being actively pursued under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Shri Kunwarjibhai Bawaliya, and Minister of State Shri Mukeshbhai Patel.

The updated directive mandates that works related to increasing water storage capacity and groundwater recharge must be integrated into the annual development works list. It introduces a structured plan to tackle the state’s water security challenges, particularly in drought-prone and agrarian regions.

For the first time, the shortfall in public contribution for deepening village lakes or border lakes can be compensated through the MLA’s grant, capped at 10% of the project cost. Furthermore, a maximum limit of ₹5 lakh has been imposed on individual water storage projects, ensuring widespread distribution of benefits across constituencies.

A comprehensive list of permissible water-related works has been formulated. These include:

Deepening and filling village ponds and lakes

Canal and drainage deepening

Construction and repair of check dams

Rainwater harvesting systems on government buildings

Drinking water well deepening and repairs

Groundwater recharge structures and underground storage tanks

WTP/STP (Water and Sewage Treatment Plant) repairs

Strengthening pond embankments and constructing check walls

This policy pivot reflects Gujarat’s commitment to climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure, ensuring that rural communities are not left vulnerable to erratic rainfall or depleting aquifers.

The state’s proactive integration of water-related works into its district-level development plan also has socio-economic implications. Not only will these initiatives improve drinking water access and agricultural irrigation, but they will also reduce dependency on water tankers during summer months and empower villages to manage their natural resources locally.

The government’s plan acknowledges that mere infrastructure development is no longer enough. Strategic investment in ecological sustainability—especially water—is the need of the hour. With water scarcity looming large in various parts of the country, this Gujarat model could become a template for other states seeking to decentralize development while ensuring ecological accountability.