Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR Chairs the Western Region State Water Secretaries Conference in Pune
Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR Chairs the Western Region State Water Secretaries Conference in Pune
Paving the Way for Synergistic Centre–State Partnerships in the Water Sector
Shri V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, chaired the Regional State Water Secretaries Conference for the Western Region for synergistic partnerships between the Centre and State governments in the water sector.
Senior officials from the Water Resources Departments of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu participated in the conference. Officials of DoWR, RD&GR, New Delhi apart from heads of major organisations of the department participated in the conference.
Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR while highlighting the objectives of the conference underscored the need of effective utilisation of services/ works of the various organisations of the DoWR, RD& GR in the region by participating States/UTs. He also emphasised the need of holding such regional conferences for detailed deliberations between the DoWR, RD&GR and the States/UTs for paving the way for a national conference.
The main agenda of the conference included –
- Review of the works done by the organisations of the Department in the participating States/UTs.
- Presentations by the participating States/UTs.
- Discussion on the Presentations of the States/UTs and response to their issues/ concerns.
- Review of adoption of advisories of DoWR, RD, GR by the participating States/UTs.
State Govt. officials made presentations on the actions taken by their respective states/UTs in the field of water resources. Secretary DoWR, RD&GR reviewed the overall progress made by the states and highlighted the importance of strengthening the centre-state and inter-state coordination for effective implementation of various schemes. The Secretary underpinned the need for timely completion of ongoing projects and to reduce the gaps in centre-state coordination to ensure time-bound progress of priority works.
In his concluding remarks, the Secretary highlighted the significance of the meeting in formulating and executing integrated strategies for sustainable and effective development of water resources in the region. He reiterated the department’s commitment to providing full support for the overall development and management of water resources projects.
