New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil on Monday discussed measures to further strengthen the country’s water security through water conservation and enhancing water use efficiency in irrigation at a national conference.

Interacting with officials at the All-India Conference of Senior Most Secretaries of Water Resources Departments of states and Union Territories at Chanakya Hall in Sushma Swaraj Bhawan here, Patil also took stock of measures for advancing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Catch the Rain” resolve through public participation.

In a message on X, Patil said, “Special emphasis was laid on strengthening the country’s water security further through water conservation, enhancing water use efficiency in irrigation, dam safety, improvements in water governance, use of modern technology, and better coordination among states.”

“I am confident that the deliberations in this conference and the related suggestions will give a new momentum to reforms in the country’s water sector and play an important role in the direction of more effective and scientific management of water resources,” said Patil.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Catch the Rain” initiative, an innovative effort is underway in Navsari under the Water Storage Public Participation Campaign to conserve rainwater and channel it to groundwater through recharge borewells, he said.

“These structures, built by the district administration and public collaboration, are preventing rainwater from going to waste and continuously enriching the groundwater level,” he said.

This campaign is a powerful testament that when administration and society work hand in hand, every drop becomes a precious asset for the future, said Patil.

The Conference formed part of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s continued efforts to enhance sustainable water resources management through improved policy coordination, institutional strengthening, efficient project implementation, enhanced dam safety and greater community participation in water conservation.

It aimed to strengthen Centre-state coordination on priority initiatives in the Water Resources sector and review the progress of major national programmes of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, a statement said.

–IANS

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