“Water Vision @ 2047 – Way Ahead” All India Secretaries’ Conference Concludes with a Focus on Strengthening Water Security

Mahabalipuram: The two-day “All India Secretaries’ Conference on Water Vision @ 2047 – Way Ahead” came to a close at Mahabalipuram, Chennai, with a primary objective of fortifying the water security of the nation. More than 300 delegates, including 30 Secretaries from 32 States and Union Territories, participated in the conference, sharing best practices and progress made on the 22 recommendations from the “1st All India Annual State Ministers Conference on Water” held in January 2023 at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, ten Sectoral Groups of Secretaries (SGoS) are developing a blueprint with realistic deadlines and milestones. Each Ministry, guided by the Sectoral Group of Secretaries, has crafted a Vision document specific to its sector. The Ministry of Jal Shakti organized the conference on “Water Vision @ 2047” in January 2023, where 22 recommendations for further action were agreed upon.

These recommendations encompassed prioritizing drinking water and its source sustainability, building climate resilience, managing demand and supply efficiently, increasing water storage, leveraging state-of-the-art technology, enhancing water utilization efficiency, intensifying water conservation programs, promoting interlinking of rivers, monitoring river health, maintaining environmental flow, and implementing flood management measures with enhanced people’s participation. The Secretaries Conference aimed to expedite the implementation of these recommendations.

The conference featured five thematic sessions on water management, covering Climate Resilience, Water Governance, Water Use Efficiency, the role of reservoirs and storage mechanisms, and People’s Participation. Customized presentations from 30 states highlighted various initiatives undertaken in these thematic areas.

A unique feature of the conference was a digital collection of curated publications, presenting over 150 relevant documents, research findings, and literature on water-related issues underpinning the conference themes.

A Round Table Conference of Secretaries and CEOs of industries was also organized to explore opportunities for effective collaboration with industries to achieve the Water Vision @ 2047.

The Ministerial Session, chaired by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, emphasized the urgent need for collaboration and innovation to ensure sustainable water management for the well-being of communities and the environment. The Minister reiterated the commitment to strengthen the Centre-State partnership to achieve water security goals in the country.