Vice-President Briefed on Major River Interlinking and Water Conservation Initiatives of Ministry of Jal Shakti

Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan was briefed on key water resource management initiatives and infrastructure projects during a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary and senior officials of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

The Vice-President appreciated the flagship Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) programme, which promotes water conservation and groundwater recharge through participation from governments, communities, industries and civil society organisations. Officials informed him that under JSJB 2.0, more than 1.55 crore water conservation and groundwater recharge structures have been reported, surpassing the programme's targets.

The meeting also reviewed progress on major river-linking projects, including the Ken-Betwa Link Project, Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project and Godavari-Cauvery Link Project.

Radhakrishnan highlighted the transformative potential of river interlinking in addressing water scarcity, mitigating droughts, expanding irrigation coverage and supporting balanced regional development. He also suggested that major national water infrastructure projects, particularly the Ken-Betwa Link Project, should be documented through documentaries and archival records to preserve their legacy for future generations.

Recalling his earlier advocacy for river interlinking, the Vice-President noted that funding is often not the primary challenge in implementing such projects, stressing that cooperative approaches and political consensus are essential for advancing water governance in the national interest.

During the meeting, the Jal Shakti Minister also invited the Vice-President to attend the India International Water Week, scheduled to be held in September 2026.