Udaipur, February 19, 2025 - The 2nd All India State Water Ministers Conference, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, began in Udaipur yesterday, February 18. The conference was inaugurated by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Minister for Jal Shakti Chandrakant Raghunath Patil. Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Manjhi, Chief Minister of Tripura Dr Manik Saha, Deputy Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, 34 ministers and more than 300 delegates were present on the occasion.

This conference is an important step towards the “Water Vision @ 2047”, which was first presented at the Bhopal Conference (2023) and later reviewed at the conference of Secretaries at Mahabalipuram (2024).

Water Resource Management, Conservation

On the first day of the conference, there was intense brainstorming on effective management of water resources, development of water storage infrastructure, strengthening of irrigation systems and increasing water use efficiency. Special emphasis was laid on adopting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in accordance with the geographical and climatic needs of the States, strengthening water governance at the village level and balancing water demand and supply through water budgeting. The role of technology and innovation in water management was also discussed, so that more efficient use of water resources can be ensured.

The conference emphasised on rapidly expanding the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign across the country, so that water conservation can be made a mass movement through community participation. Apart from this, fast-tracking river linking projects, developing small water storage structures and revival of traditional water sources were also discussed. It was recommended to adopt automated systems for effective management of reservoirs and implement water conservation at every level.

Jal Jeevan Mission

To ensure the continued success of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), emphasis was laid on strengthening operation and maintenance through Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs). The discussion also highlighted the need to further strengthen water quality testing so that safe drinking water is available in every household.

Apart from this, discussions were held on the effective implementation of AMRUT scheme and adoption of grey-water management under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 to ensure water security in urban areas. Emphasis was laid on giving priority to water supply, especially in water-stressed areas, so that safe drinking water is available to every citizen.

The Way Forward

On the second day of the conference, concrete action plans will be finalised to make water management more effective and ensure water security. The aim of this conference is to prepare a concrete water strategy to realise the vision of Developed India @ 2047, ensuring sustainable and holistic use of water resources in the coming years.