India committed over $240 billion in water sector: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that India has committed investments of more than $240 billion in the water sector and is implementing the largest dam rehabilitation programme in the world as well as efforts to restore groundwater level. He highlighted the ambitious programmes and efforts being undertaken in India towards ensuring water security and achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of clean water and sanitation for all.
He mentioned government has committed investments of more than $240 billion in the water sector through government resources, in partnership with private innovators, start-ups, and water-user associations. He said India is implementing two flagship missions to ensure universal access to sanitation and drinking water. He said India is implementing the largest dam rehabilitation programme in the world, to build climate resilience critical water storage infrastructure. Further, due to the country's unique geography, India is among the largest users of groundwater in the world.
Besides, he said currently government is making efforts to restore groundwater level and create mindful communities by combining demand and supply side interventions through village Water Security Plans, inculcating behavioural changes on water usage and conservation at the grass-root level, financing these plans through incentives and convergence of existing programmes. He added that this has led to creating greater community ownership in the equitable management of water at a local level.
