India striving for water security with watershed management: Pemmasani

Efforts are under way to transform India from a water-scarce nation into one of water security through effective watershed management programmes, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said on Monday.

He was addressing a two-day National Workshop on Watershed Management held in Guntur, attended by representatives from the Central and State governments.

Inaugurating the event by lighting a lamp, Dr. Chandra Sekhar said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union government had been implementing several progressive schemes aimed at ensuring water sustainability and rural prosperity. “With a visionary approach, Andhra Pradesh is effectively utilising these schemes and emerging as a model State,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that capturing and conserving rainwater is vital for securing livelihoods and improving agricultural productivity. “An annual per capita availability of 1,700 cubic metres of water is required. Anything less is considered water stress. Recognising water security as national security, the government has been implementing watershed programmes across the country,” he said.

He added that optimal water utilisation could increase productivity six-fold, enable multiple cropping, and raise groundwater levels by up to three metres. The Watershed 2.0 Programme, being implemented from 2021 to 2026 with an outlay of ₹13,000 crore, focuses on sustainable water conservation and livelihood enhancement, he noted.

Dr. Chandra Sekhar also called for large-scale awareness in every village and coordinated action among departments to avoid delays in implementation. He underscored the need to prioritise drought-prone areas and reconstruct at least 25,000 tanks every year. “Public participation, coordination, and awareness can bring transformative results and open new avenues for rural livelihoods,” he said.

As part of the Watershed Mahotsav, the Minister also highlighted the development of a scenic 21-acre tank at Vengalayapalem near Guntur, featuring gardens, a walking track, and recreation facilities for children and yoga enthusiasts.

Earlier, Union Rural Development Secretary Manoj Joshi said the Centre was funding watershed projects nationwide and partnering with voluntary organisations. State Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Principal Secretary Shashibhushan Kumar said efforts were being made to rejuvenate water resources across the State.

The event was attended by Panchayat Raj Commissioner M. Krishna Teja, Guntur Collector A. Thameem Ansariya, and delegates from various States.