Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the Atal Bhujal Yojana, involving an expenditure of ₹ 6000 crore for improving groundwater level in seven states, on the occasion of 95th birth anniversary of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The World Bank-funded scheme focuses on the need to use technology which helps prevent wastage of water in various spheres, including agriculture.

Modi said, “New India should come to work together to deal with every situation of the water crisis. On the one hand, there is Jal Jeevan Mission, which will ensure that piped potable water will reach every household while on the other side is the Atal Jal Yojana, which will put prime focus on places where the groundwater level is low.”

According to the central government, the scheme will cover 8350 gram panchayats in 78 districts across seven states – Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The prime minister also said that the Rohtang Tunnel, that connects Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, and connecting Manali with Leh, will now be known as Atal Tunnel.

The 8.8-km tunnel is the world’s longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 meters, the statement said, adding that it will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km and save crores of rupees in transport costs.