CR Paatil Apprises V-P Radhakrishnan Of River Interlinking Projects

(MENAFN- IANS) New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil on Tuesday invited Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan to the International Water Week, scheduled to be held in September 2026, and apprised him of various river interlinking projects, an official said.

During a meeting, Radhakrishnan was also briefed on various initiatives and projects being undertaken by the Ministry to strengthen water conservation and water resource management across the country, the official said in a statement.

He was apprised of the progress of major river-linking projects, including the Ken-Betwa Link Project, Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project and the Godavari-Cauvery Link Project.

Paatil and Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary also presented updates on key programmes, including Namami Gange, the National River Conservation Plan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme.

The Vice-President appreciated the Department's flagship initiative“Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari”, launched to strengthen water conservation and groundwater recharge through a whole-of-society approach.

The Vice President appreciated the Department's flagship initiative“Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB)”, launched to strengthen water conservation and groundwater recharge through a whole-of-society approach involving governments, communities, industries and civil society organisations.

He was informed that under JSJB 2.0, more than 1.55 crore water conservation and groundwater recharge structures have been reported, significantly surpassing the target, the statement said.

Radhakrishnan underlined that interlinking of rivers can play a transformative role in addressing water stress, mitigating droughts, expanding irrigation coverage, and ensuring balanced regional development.

The Vice-President suggested that major ongoing national water infrastructure projects, such as the Ken-Betwa Link Project, should be comprehensively documented through documentaries and archival records so that future generations may appreciate these historic nation-building efforts and take pride in them.

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