National Watershed Conference Begins in Guntur; Focus on Innovation and Community Participation for WDC–PMKSY 3.0

The National Watershed Conference commenced today at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, with a focus on integrating innovation, technology, and community participation into the next phase of the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC–PMKSY 3.0).

The two-day conference, being organized by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, brings together senior officials from the Central and State Governments, research institutions, and representatives from various NGOs to deliberate on strategies for sustainable and resilient watershed management.

 Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Shri Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, inaugurated the conference as the Chief Guest. The event was also attended by Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, DoLR, Shri Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Principal Secretary, PR & RD, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Shri Nitin Khade, Joint Secretary, DoLR.

In his address, Shri Pemmasani emphasized the need for forward-looking soil and water conservation programmes that balance present and future water requirements. He highlighted the importance of combining modern technology with community participation to create innovative and sustainable watershed solutions.

Secretary, DoLR, underlined the need to shift from conventional watershed practices to integrated and holistic approaches, suggesting inclusion of river restoration and revival of traditional water bodies within watershed activities.

Principal Secretary, PR & RD, Andhra Pradesh, traced the evolution of watershed development programmes and thanked DoLR for selecting Guntur as the venue. Joint Secretary, DoLR, stated that field experiences and ideas shared during the event would shape the design of WDC–PMKSY 3.0.

The conference will continue till 11th November 2025, and its key recommendations will contribute to the formulation of the next-phase framework for watershed development programmes.