Vice President Urges Overcoming 'Mindset Hurdles' to Drive Massive River Interlinking and National Water Security Projects

Vice President Urges Overcoming 'Mindset Hurdles' to Drive Massive River Interlinking and National Water Security Projects​

The nation’s water future was placed under close scrutiny today as the Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, received a detailed briefing on the ambitious initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The meeting underscored the critical need for large-scale river interlinking and robust water conservation practices to secure the country's dwindling water resources.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, alongside Minister of State Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, briefed the Vice-President on various ongoing projects designed to strengthen water resource management across India. These initiatives, handled by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), represent significant national infrastructure efforts.

Success of 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' Initiative​

The Vice-President specifically lauded "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" (JSJB) as a flagship initiative for water conservation. JSJB is designed to mobilize a holistic, whole-of-society approach involving governments, industry, communities, and civil society organizations.

Details provided indicated that the scale of the conservation effort under JSJB 2.0 has surpassed expectations. To date, more than 1.55 crore water conservation and groundwater recharge structures have been reported, demonstrating massive grassroots commitment to resource protection.

Progress on Mega River Interlinking Projects​

The briefing covered the status and progress of several pivotal river-linking projects. These mega-projects are viewed by officials as transformative levers against mounting water stress and drought mitigation.

Key infrastructure programs discussed included the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project, and the Godavari-Cauvery Link Project. The Vice-President noted that successful inter-linking holds immense potential to expand irrigation coverage and ensure balanced regional development across various regions.

VP Stresses Need for Vision Over Funding in Water Governance​

Reflecting on his previous advocacy for river interlinking, the Vice-President delivered a pointed assessment of implementation challenges. He emphatically stated that financial availability is not the primary obstacle preventing these projects from moving forward at their full potential.

The Vice-President instead highlighted mindset-related issues and political considerations as significant impediments to water governance in the larger national interest. He stressed that achieving true water security requires a visionary and cooperative approach across all stakeholders.

Call for Archiving National Water Infrastructure Efforts​

Addressing the magnitude of these nation-building efforts, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan provided an important suggestion. He recommended that major ongoing national water infrastructure projects, such as the Ken-Betwa Link Project, should be comprehensively documented through archival records and documentaries. This move is intended to ensure that future generations fully appreciate the historical significance and scale of these monumental undertakings.

Union Minister C. R. Patil and Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary extended an invitation to the Vice-President for participation in the India International Water Week scheduled for September 2026.