Water Vision 2047: Water is a subject of cooperation & coordination for every state, says PM Modi

Water vision 2047: On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first all India annual conference of state ministers on water conservation commenced at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center in Bhopal.

The program started with the video message virtually by PM Modi. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented their views during the program at the Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium. Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel was also present on the occasion.

Water Resources, Public Health Engineering and Irrigation Ministers with their representation from all the states and union territories along with the officials of the concerned departments, participated in Water Vision@2047. In this two-day conference, which will run till January 6, a roadmap will be prepared for the solution of water problems. CM Shivraj Chouhan inaugurated the exhibition at the venue.

In his video message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in our constitutional system, water as a subject comes under the control of the states. The country needs coordinated efforts for water conservation. It is the responsibility of each state to make water a subject of cooperation and coordination. It is necessary to involve public initiatives and social organizations to increase public participation supporting the government’s efforts for water management.

He said that the benefit of public participation is that the public also gets information about the seriousness of the work and the resources put into it. The public also experiences a sense of ownership towards the activity. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is the best example of this.

PM Modi said that the country is making 75 Amrit Sarovar in every district, in which 25 thousand Amrit Sarovars have been built so far. He spoke about the use of technology and the need to engage startups to identify problems and find solutions. Highlighting the success of Jal Jeevan Mission, he proposed that Gram Panchayats should lead Jal Jeevan Mission.

Prime Minister Modi said that crop diversification and natural farming have a positive impact on water conservation. It is necessary to encourage drop-more crop campaign in the country. The PM also explained the need to conduct activities at the micro level for groundwater recharge under the Atal Ground Water Conservation Scheme.

PM Modi said that we have to ensure that none of our rivers or water structures are polluted by external factors. For this, there is a need to work sensitively and actively in the field of water management and sewage treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stressed the need for water treatment and water recycling. PM Modi said that on the basis of Namami Gange Mission, other states can also start campaigns for the conservation of rivers.

MP Chief Minister, Shivraj Chouhan, Union Minister Shekhawat and Union Minister of State, Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the program by offering water from small pots into a big pot as a symbol of water conservation and accumulation at the Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium. E-launching of National Framework on Reuse of Treated Waste Water, National Framework for Sedimentation Management and Jal Itihas Sub Portal was done in the program. Along with this, a short film on the theme of Jal Shakti Abhiyan ‘Catch the Rain’ was also screened.

CM Chouhan thanked the central government for selecting Bhopal for discussion on an important topic like Water vision 2047 and said that Bhopal has historically been a unique example of water management. The big lake built by Raja Bhoj in the 10th century is still supplying drinking water to one-third of Bhopal’s population.

There are 2 thousand water structures in the Bundelkhand region of the state. We are blessed that we have the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and we are also getting his guidance for water conservation and management.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that activities are being conducted with sensitivity for water conservation and its economical use in Madhya Pradesh. Till the year 2003-04, the irrigation potential in the state was 7.50 lakh hectare, which has now increased to 43 lakh hectare. Our target is to have irrigation potential in 65 lakh hectare area. Pipeline and sprinkler irrigation facilities are being provided keeping economical use of water in view.

He said that Jalabhishek Abhiyan was started in the year 2007 in the state. To encourage public participation in water management, Jal Sansad, Jal Sammelan and village Jal Yatras were organized in all the districts. In the Jalabhishek Abhiyan, Bori Bandhan, Check Dam, Stop Dam were constructed in large numbers. The work of river rejuvenation is also being encouraged in the state. Plantation of trees on both sides of the river was taken as a campaign during the Narmada Seva Yatra.

CM Shivraj Singh said that works worth Rs 50 thousand crore are going on in the state under Jal-Jeevan Mission, this initiative will help provide tap water to 46% of the houses in MP. A water policy including all significant aspects will be implemented in the state within next couple of months.

CM Shivraj further added that construction of farm ponds were also encouraged through the Balram Tal Yojana. Along with this, the construction of Stop Dams has helped in recharging wells in many areas of the state. Farmers are being encouraged to get crops grown in less water in the state. The CM told the representatives of the central government and ministries of various states present in the Water Vision @ 2047, that special campaigns are being conducted in the state for tree plantation, energy-literacy, saving water, cleanliness and women empowerment.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that trees and water go hand in hand. I myself have taken a pledge to plant saplings everyday. According to this resolution, I plant three saplings every day. The CM invited all the participants of Water Vision @ 2047 to plant saplings on January 6. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that this plantation will give the message of water conservation to the whole country and will keep the memories of Water Vision @ 2047 intact.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat thanked Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan for giving consent and providing cooperation to organize Water Vision @ 2047 in Bhopal. Minister Shekhawat said that India is the fastest growing economy in the world. Our country is moving towards becoming a developed country. In view of the challenge of rapid urbanization and encountering pollution, it is necessary to prepare action plans for holistic water management at the micro level. It is necessary to increase the storage capacity of water in the country. This will be possible by encouraging the construction of small water structures as well as conserving underground water.

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The two-day event will have sessions on five themes – water scarcity – water surplus and water conservation in hilly areas, water reuse, water governance, resilient water infrastructure and water quality to meet the challenge of climate change.