new delhi, Sept 25
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with Union Jal Shakti Minister Chandrakant Patil launched ‘National Initiative on Water Security’ at Krishi Bhawan here on Thursday.
Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan, Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Singh and senior officials from both the ministries were present on the occasion, an official release said.
Speaking at the launch, Chouhan said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Rural Development has made water security a national priority under MGNREGA.
Amendments, he said, have been made in the Schedule of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Act, 2005, to give precedence to water-related works in water-stressed rural blocks.
This historic step ensures that a minimum expenditure on water conservation and harvesting activities will now be mandatory in rural blocks, the minister added.
He told mediapersons that groundwater levels are continuously depleting and water has become one of the biggest global challenges.
PM Modi is committed to water conservation since his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and has led numerous initiatives to underline its importance, the minister said.
Reiterating the importance of water, Chouhan said, “Water is life.
If there is water, there is a tomorrow and a today. Without water, nothing is possible.”
The Prime Minister had instructed in a meeting of the Council of Ministers that a fixed portion of MGNREGA funds must be earmarked for water conservation.
Chouhan further said that nationwide MGNREGA resources will now be channelled with priority into water conservation, boosting groundwater recharge and accelerating conservation drives.
This policy decision ensures that resources are directed to the areas of greatest need, shifting the approach from reactive to preventive and long-term water management, he added.
Union Jal Shakti Minister Patil also highlighted the importance of the initiative, saying PM Modi has always given water conservation the highest priority.
Under his visionary leadership, the Council of Ministers has taken a very important and historic decision.
