Modi Pitches Tech-Driven Water Security, Calls for Inter-State Learning and 'Jal Utsav'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a sharper, more collaborative approach to India's water security, asking states to learn from successful interventions elsewhere, adopt water-saving technologies and use artificial intelligence to improve water data and planning.
Chairing the valedictory session of the two-day National Departmental Summit on Water organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Modi said the exercise should not end with the summit. He called for continuous review and follow-up of the actionable, time-bound outcomes that emerged from the discussions.
The summit, the first in a series of departmental summits envisioned by the Prime Minister, brought together ministers and senior officials from states and Union Territories. Its broader objective is to strengthen the spirit of Team India, deepen cooperative federalism and encourage the Centre and states to take collective ownership of national priorities.
The summit focused on four key areas: faster completion of water infrastructure projects, strengthening Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari with emphasis on rainwater conservation, ensuring the long-term sustainability of drinking water sources, and improving the operation and maintenance of rural drinking water schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
Discussions stressed time-bound action to increase public participation in water conservation, protect drinking water sources and improve the availability and reliability of drinking water in rural areas.
Modi emphasised that water conservation cannot remain solely a government responsibility. Greater public participation, he said, will be crucial to turning conservation into a sustained people's movement.
With this focus on Jan Bhagidari, the Prime Minister suggested promoting "Jal Utsav" to build greater public awareness around water conservation. He also called for making desilting a regular exercise and developing clear criteria and standard operating procedures for it.
On dam safety, Modi stressed rigorous preparedness ahead of every monsoon, strict adherence to prescribed precautions and greater awareness among school students. He suggested that water and dam safety-related awareness could be suitably incorporated into educational curricula.
A key message from the summit was that states should not have to reinvent solutions that have already worked elsewhere. Modi encouraged states to showcase successful experiments and urged ministers and officials to study models developed in other states. The idea, he said, is to replicate effective interventions while adapting them to local geography and requirements.
The Prime Minister's suggestion for structured inter-state visits involving elected representatives, officials and farmers is aimed at turning such exchanges into practical learning exercises rather than one-off interactions. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also presented the state's water conservation model at the summit.
The summit also discussed the target of creating two crore new water conservation structures by May 31, 2027. The emphasis is on capturing rainwater where it falls, improving local water availability and strengthening groundwater recharge.
Modi's message, "Jal jahan gire, wahin sanchit karein" — conserve rainwater as close as possible to where it falls — reflects the approach while allowing states to tailor implementation to suit their local requirements. The larger goal, he said, is to conserve every possible drop.
