NEW DELHI, Sep 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for a sustained and coordinated “Team India” approach to address the country’s growing water challenges, stressing that decisions taken at the National Departmental Summit on Water must result in measurable improvements on the ground.
Chairing the valedictory session of the two-day summit organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Modi said the recommendations emerging from the meeting should not remain limited to a one-time exercise. Instead, he called for continuous review, learning and follow up to ensure effective implementation.
The summit, held on September 1 and 2, is the first in a series of departmental meetings envisioned by the Prime Minister to strengthen cooperative federalism, encourage collective ownership of national priorities and improve coordination between the Centre, States and Union Territories.
Ministers and senior officials from States and UTs participated in discussions focused on water security, conservation and management.
Greater public participation in conservation
Highlighting the importance of Jan Bhagidari, Modi called for wider promotion of “Jal Utsav” to increase awareness about water conservation and encourage communities to participate actively in managing local water resources.
He also stressed that de-silting should become a regular activity, supported by clearly defined criteria and standard operating procedures.
On dam safety, the Prime Minister called for thorough preparedness before every monsoon and strict adherence to prescribed safety measures. He also suggested increasing awareness among schoolchildren and incorporating dam safety into educational curricula where appropriate.
Urban water challenges need long-term planning
With cities facing rising pressure on water resources, Modi called for greater awareness among Urban Local Bodies about the impact of rapid urbanisation, population growth and future demand.
He suggested holding similar “Chintan Shivirs” for Urban Local Bodies so that emerging challenges can be examined collectively and practical solutions developed.
The Prime Minister also encouraged wider adoption of water-efficient technologies. He proposed dedicated exhibitions and workshops to help Indian manufacturers and other stakeholders learn about global best practices and develop technologies suited to domestic requirements.
AI and data to strengthen water management
Technology and data emerged as important elements of the government’s proposed approach. Modi called for stronger water data governance by consolidating information from the sector, organising it systematically and using it more effectively for policymaking and planning.
He advocated using artificial intelligence for water-related data collection and analysis through standardised formats, which could improve the quality, consistency and utility of information available to policymakers.
Modi further emphasised anticipatory planning to deal with water scarcity. He called for greater use of treated wastewater in agriculture and industry and stressed the need to prepare for future requirements instead of responding only after shortages occur.
States urged to learn from successful models
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi said water scarcity could be transformed into an opportunity through systematic planning, adequate resources, committed leadership and capable officials.
He encouraged States to study successful water-management initiatives and adapt effective practices according to their own local conditions.
Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Patil identified four key outcomes of the summit: faster completion of water infrastructure projects, turning conservation into a sustained people’s movement, securing the long-term sustainability of drinking water sources and institutionalising effective operation and maintenance of rural drinking water schemes.
The summit brought political leaders and senior officials from the Centre, States and Union Territories together to discuss sector-specific priorities and ways to speed up implementation.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader push for cooperative federalism, with greater emphasis on sharing experiences, replicating successful practices and ensuring collective responsibility for national development priorities.
The focus on conservation, technology, data based planning and community participation comes as India’s water resources face increasing pressure from urbanisation, growing demand, groundwater depletion and uneven availability.