New Delhi, Sep 25 Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil on Friday said water conservation is a shared responsibility, and asserted that the ideas and technologies discussed during the India International Water Week should translate into concrete projects on the ground.
Addressing the valedictory session of the ninth India International Water Week (IIWW) at Bharat Mandapam here, Patil said three important points have emerged from the deliberations during the programme — the importance of public participation in water conservation, ensuring the benefits of science and new technology reach the ground, and strengthening cooperation among countries and institutions.
“Water security is not merely a government responsibility. It is a shared responsibility of all of us,” Patil said.
He said the experience garnered from initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari shows that tangible results can be achieved when government and society work together.
Patil said the role of science, methods, data and new technology was also discussed during IIWW and stressed that such technologies should not remain confined to presentations and discussions but be implemented on the ground on a large scale.
Referring to international cooperation, he said technical cooperation between Indian and Dutch institutions has gained momentum, particularly in the context of the Kalpasar project in Gujarat — describing it as a flagship project of the Narendra Modi government.
The project envisages creation of a water reservoir with a capacity of around eight billion cubic metres, which, he said, may become the world’s largest in coming years.
“The growing cooperation involving the Central Water Commission, Gujarat government and Dutch institutions is an example of how global experience and technology can be used according to India’s requirements,” Patil said.
India and the Netherlands signed two MoUs during IIWW for technical cooperation and capacity building in connection with the Kalpasar project.
“India has many experiences in water management that it can share with the world. At the same time, we also have an opportunity to learn from the good experiences of other countries,” he said.
Patil said the deliberations held during IIWW should not end with the conclusion of the event and called for useful ideas to be taken forward.
He said when the participants meet again, the discussion should not only revolve around what needs to be done, but also around what has been achieved together after IIWW 2026, and its impact on people’s lives and water security.
Patil said the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, has brought safe drinking water to rural households and reduced burden on women who earlier had to travel long distances to fetch water.
Citing figures attributed to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, he said around nine crore women earlier travelled long distances each day to fetch water, and spent around 5.5 crore hours daily collecting and carrying it. “Today, many of them have been freed from this burden, with good-quality water reaching their homes.”
Patil also referred to India’s cultural traditions and said water has always held an important place in the country’s culture and way of life.
He cautioned that if people do not become aware of the need to conserve water in time, a situation could arise where water becomes so scarce that people may have to depend on artificial alternatives. “We should ensure that such a situation does not arise. We have to create awareness and also take concrete action.”
He also appreciated the participation of youth and their use of technology to address water-related challenges.
The ninth India International Water Week, held from September 22 to 25 at Bharat Mandapam, was themed around “Climate Resilient Water Management”.
(PTI News)
