The Ministry of Jal Shakti on Tuesday convened the All India Water Secretaries’ Conference in New Delhi, bringing together nearly 200 senior officials from the Centre and States to chart a roadmap for strengthening India’s water security through better governance, irrigation reforms and sustainable water management.
Chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in the presence of Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary, the conference focused on eight priority areas, including dam safety, irrigation modernisation, water conservation, project appraisal reforms and state-level water governance.
FOCUS ON WATER SECURITY AND REFORMS
Addressing the conference, Patil described water as the backbone of India’s economic growth, food security and environmental sustainability. He urged all States and Union Territories to transform the Catch the Rain 2026 campaign into a nationwide people’s movement by promoting rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, restoration of traditional water bodies and public awareness initiatives.
The Minister also called for timely implementation of the Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CAD) Scheme, asking states to expedite project execution, strengthen Water User Associations and improve irrigation efficiency to enhance farmers’ incomes.
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DAM SAFETY, DATA AND BETTER PLANNING
Mr. Patil reiterated the Centre’s target of completing the Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation (CDSE) of all specified dams by December 2026 under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. He also highlighted progress under the State Water Reforms Framework, noting that all 36 States and Union Territories have appointed nodal officers to drive reforms in digitisation, project monitoring and citizen participation.
The conference also reviewed ongoing irrigation and water body censuses aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking.
During the event, the Minister released three key publications, including a framework for treated wastewater reuse in Varanasi, an operations manual for groundwater recharge structures and a standardised Schedule of Rates for drilling works. The conference concluded with a collective commitment to achieve the vision of “Jal Surakshit, Bharat Surakshit.”
