New Delhi, Sept 15: Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil on Monday announced that the Government is actively working to divert water from rivers covered under the now-suspended Indus Water Treaty (IWT), aiming to address water shortages across Indian states.
Steps to Implement PM Modi’s Decision
Paatil emphasized that the matter involves international implications and refrained from going into details, but assured that “the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being implemented with the involvement of the Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs.” He said the move will bring major benefits to the country by ensuring water availability for states facing scarcity.
“We are making every possible effort so that very soon this water is diverted, and the states facing scarcity in our country get water. Farmers will prosper, and people’s water problems will be resolved,” the Minister said during the Aadhar Infra Confluence 2025.
India suspended the IWT with Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead.
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River Rejuvenation and Namami Gange Success
Speaking on river rejuvenation, Paatil highlighted the success of the Namami Gange programme. Despite lakhs of devotees taking a holy dip during the Kumbh, he said, the river remained clean due to effective wastewater treatment.
“From Haridwar to Bengal, 211 sewage treatment plants are operational. Within the next 18 months, major drains in Kanpur and Varanasi will also be fully treated, further improving the quality of Ganga water,” he noted.
Yamuna Cleaning and Other Initiatives
On the Yamuna, Paatil said AI-powered boats removed water hyacinth within 45 days, with further support from state governments. He added that while some private players had shown interest in river cleaning, projects failed to progress, leading the government to directly fund initiatives such as desilting of dams and rivers.
Notices have also been sent to 67 power plants along the Ganga, requiring them to use tertiary treated water. Infrastructure is being developed accordingly to ensure compliance.
India’s Water Challenge
Explaining the broader water crisis, the Minister noted that while India receives about 4,000 billion cubic metres (bcm) of rainfall annually, current storage capacity is only 750 bcm, far short of the country’s needs. He pointed out the difficulty of building new dams, which take decades and massive investments.
“Can we afford to wait 25 years for water?” he asked, stressing the need for alternative solutions.
Public Participation in Conservation
Paatil underlined the achievements of water conservation efforts, stating that within eight months, 32 lakh water conservation structures were created across 611 districts through public participation, without expenditure from the Ministry. Telangana ranked first in this drive, followed by Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
- Water Diversion: Government acting on PM Modi’s directive with multi-ministry coordination.
- River Cleaning: AI boats and STPs improving Ganga and Yamuna water quality.
- Conservation Success: 32 lakh structures built across 611 districts in eight months.
Source: PTI
Labels: Water Resources, Government, Indus Water Treaty
Tags: #IndusWaterTreaty #WaterConservation #CRPaatil #NamamiGange
Disclaimer: This article is a rewritten summary based on reporting by PTI. Jammu News Portal does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of external content.
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