Water Scarcity Can Be Transformed into Opportunities: PM Modi

• PM Modi chaired the valedictory session of the two-day National Water Summit.
• He called for continuous review and follow-up of time-bound water initiatives.
• PM stressed Jan Bhagidari, water-saving technologies and AI-based water data governance.
• He suggested inter-State study visits involving officials, public representatives and farmers.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Sept: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired the valedictory session of the two-day National Departmental Summit on Water, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, calling for sustained Centre-State cooperation and time-bound action to strengthen India’s water security.

The summit marked the first in a series of Departmental Summits envisioned by the Prime Minister to strengthen the spirit of Team India, deepen cooperative federalism and promote collective ownership of national priorities.

Ministers and senior officials from States and Union Territories participated in the summit and held discussions on various aspects of water security and management.

PM stresses continuous review of outcomes
Addressing the concluding session, Modi appreciated the deliberations and stressed that the actionable and time-bound outcomes emerging from the summit should be followed through a continuous process of review, learning and follow-up.

He said the summit should not remain a one-time exercise and called for mechanisms to ensure sustained monitoring of decisions and their implementation.

The Prime Minister also called for sensitising Urban Local Bodies to challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, population growth and rising future water requirements. He suggested that similar Chintan Shivirs be organised for Urban Local Bodies.

Focus on water conservation and technology
Modi called for wider adoption of water-saving technologies and suggested dedicated exhibitions and workshops to expose Indian manufacturers and stakeholders to global best practices.

He said such initiatives could help develop and scale efficient technologies suited to India’s water-management requirements.

Emphasising Jan Bhagidari, the Prime Minister suggested promoting “Jal Utsav” to deepen public awareness and participation in water conservation.

He also called for making de-silting a regular programme and developing clear criteria and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the exercise.

On dam safety, Modi stressed rigorous preparedness before every monsoon, strict adherence to prescribed precautions and greater public awareness. He suggested educating school students on dam safety and incorporating suitable content into educational curricula.

AI for water data governance
The Prime Minister called for strengthening water data governance by bringing sectoral data together, systematically managing and analysing it, and ensuring its effective use for policy and planning.

He recommended the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data collection and analysis through a uniform format.

Modi also stressed anticipatory and integrated planning to tackle water scarcity, including the suitable use of treated water for agriculture and industrial purposes.

Inter-State learning and capacity building
The Prime Minister called for strengthening water-management knowledge and capacity in universities and higher educational institutions.

He also suggested structured inter-State study visits involving public representatives, officials and farmers so that successful water-management interventions could be studied and replicated in other regions.

Drawing on his experience as Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi said water scarcity could be transformed into opportunities through systematic planning, commitment, adequate resources and capable officers.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil highlighted four key outcomes of the summit: accelerated completion of water infrastructure projects, strengthening water conservation as a sustained people’s movement, ensuring long-term sustainability of drinking-water sources, and institutionalising effective operation and maintenance of rural drinking-water schemes.