NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JAN 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underlined the importance of people’s participation in the efforts for water conservation and said that the government’s attempts alone cannot be successful.
In his virtual address at the first national conference of water ministers from states, the Prime Minister pointed out that in our constitutional system, the subject of water comes under the control of the states and it is the states’ efforts for water conservation that will go a long way in achieving the collective goals of the country. “Water Vision @ 2047 is an important dimension of the journey of Amrit Kaal for the next 25 years”, the Prime Minister remarked.
We have to increase public participation for water conservation efforts. pic.twitter.com/EJxfZWPciS
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 5, 2023
- Water Vision @ 2047 is an important dimension of the journey of Amrit Kaal for the next 25 years: Modi
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- By making Namami Gange Mission a template, other states can also start similar campaigns: Modi
Reiterating his vision of ‘whole of government’ and ‘whole of country’ the Prime Minister emphasised that all governments should work like a system wherein there should be constant interaction and dialogue between different ministries of state governments, such as the Ministry of Water, Ministry of Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural and Urban Development and disaster management. He further added that planning will get help if these departments have information and data related to each other.
His remarks assume significance as disputes over water-sharing have lingered among several states for decades.
“When the public is associated with a campaign, they also get to know the seriousness of the work. Due to this, a sense of ownership also comes in the public towards any scheme or campaign”, he added.
The Prime Minister suggested, “We can organise ‘Water Awareness Festivals’ or an event related to water awareness can be added to the fairs held at the local level.” He stressed the need to make the younger generations aware of this subject through innovative ways from curriculum to activities in schools.
The Prime Minister informed that the country is constructing 75 Amrit Sarovar in every district wherein 25 thousand Amrit Sarovars have already been built so far. He emphasised the need to connect technology, industry, and startups to identify problems and find solutions and mentioned technologies like geo-sensing and geo-mapping that can be of great help. He also stressed the need to come up with government policies and bureaucratic procedures to tackle water-related issues at the policy levels.
He also called for attention to the conservation of all local sources of water and reiterated that Gram Panchayats should prepare an action plan for the next 5 years where a roadmap ranging from water supply to cleanliness and waste management should be considered.
The prime minister said he thinks that under the MGNREGA maximum work should be done on water as he called for spreading awareness among people for its conservation.
Water is most consumed in sectors such as industry and farming, and awareness should be spread among them, he said, advocating for crop diversity and natural farming.
Modi also urged states to work on waste management and sewage treatment to stop water bodies from being polluted, and said they can use the ‘Namami Gange’ scheme as a template.
People’s participation in any programme develops a sense of ownership among them which, he said, is a key to success. Modi cited the ‘Swachh Bharat’ (clean India) campaign as a successful example of this.
The all-India water ministers’ meet on the theme ‘Water Vision@2047’ brings together key policymakers to discuss “ways to harness water resources for sustainable development”, the government has said.
The Union Jal Shakti Ministry is organising the national level conference on water.
