Technology for Efficient Water Management Summit 2025
The Government of India, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has launched a series of six Departmental Summits to integrate grassroots vital information about national policy-making. One of these, the “Sujalam Bharat” Summit, focuses on water management. Coordinated by NITI Aayog and anchored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), the summit aims to gather feedback on water policies from diverse regions and stakeholders.
Recent Workshop on Water Management Technology
Recently, the Central Water Commission (CWC) organised a virtual workshop titled “Technology for Efficient Water Management”. The event brought together representatives from states across India, including Leh, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha. Participants ranged from gram panchayat members and Water User Associations to experts from institutions like the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad. The workshop was chaired by Shri Atul Jain, Chairman of CWC, with key inputs from Shri Yogesh Paithankar, Member (WP&P), CWC, and Ms Archana Verma, AS & Mission Director of the National Water Mission (NWM).
Objectives and Context
The workshop was part of the broader effort to collect grassroots-level inputs for improving water management policies. Ms Archana Verma brought into light the importance of contributions from all stakeholders to adopt and implement efficient water management technologies. The event focused on strategies to reduce stress on freshwater resources through technology and community participation.
Key Themes Discussed
The summit addressed several critical aspects of water management: – Agricultural Efficiency – Promotion of micro-irrigation systems in canal and groundwater areas. Emphasis on precision agriculture, climate resilience, and crop diversification towards drought-resistant and low water-intensive crops. – Modernisation and Automation – Upgrading tertiary canal distribution systems and using Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for water planning. Applications include improving conveyance efficiency, optimising distribution, leak detection, and monitoring water quantity and quality for agriculture, domestic, and industrial use. – Water Conservation and Accounting – Encouraging water-efficient appliances in homes and industries. Monitoring bulk water supply to reduce losses. Introducing water accounting to support informed water allocation decisions and conserving soil moisture (green water) in agriculture.
State and Community Initiatives
Presentations from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and NRSC Hyderabad showcased innovative technologies and community-led models. These included panchayat initiatives and scalable technological solutions reflecting diverse regional challenges and experiences.
Holistic Approach to Water Security
Shri Atul Jain emphasised that water management extends beyond infrastructure or gadgets. The initiative aims for a comprehensive approach to ensure national water security by integrating technology, policy, and community engagement.
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