Vice President C P Radhakrishnan reviewed the various initiatives and projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to strengthen water conservation and water resource management across the country on Tuesday. The Vice President’s Secretariat said that during the meeting, he was briefed on measures being taken for river interlinking projects, including intra-state river-linking initiatives, and on key programmes such as Namami Gange and others. Mr Radhakrishnan also emphasized that inter-linking of rivers can play a transformative role in addressing water stress, mitigating droughts, expanding irrigation coverage and ensuring balanced regional development.

In the meeting, the Vice-President also suggested that major ongoing national water infrastructure projects such as the Ken-Betwa Link Project should be comprehensively documented through documentaries and archival records. He further stressed the need for visionary and cooperative approaches to water governance in the larger national interest. Mr Radhakrishnan also lauded the Department’s flagship initiative, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, which was launched to strengthen water conservation and groundwater recharge through a whole-of-society approach.

The Meeting was attended by Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil, Minister of State Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, and senior officials of the Ministry.