Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1 (UDN): Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi left for New Delhi on Tuesday for a two-day visit to participate in the first Jal Shakti Summit, a national-level meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to strengthen Centre-state collaboration on water management.
The summit marks the first in a series of departmental conferences envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote cooperative federalism, accelerate the implementation of key programmes and encourage greater coordination between the Centre and the states.
Water security to dominate discussions
The two-day event will focus on four key priorities: speeding up the completion of water infrastructure projects, strengthening the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Catch the Rain campaign, ensuring the long-term sustainability of drinking water sources and improving the operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
Odisha to present its progress
During the summit, Majhi is expected to present Odisha’s achievements in expanding drinking water supply and irrigation infrastructure under centrally sponsored schemes. He will also share the state’s experiences in project implementation, discuss challenges encountered on the ground and highlight successful initiatives that could be replicated elsewhere.
Focus on technology and community participation
The summit will also deliberate on improving project execution, strengthening inter-agency coordination, promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, and leveraging digital monitoring and asset management systems for better water governance.
Participants are also expected to discuss ways to increase community participation in water conservation and ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources across the country.