United Nations Water Conference: India to invest Rs 20 lakh crore in water sector

Shekhawat highlighted the ambitious programs and efforts being made in India towards ensuring water security and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of clean water and sanitation for all. He said India has decided to invest Rs 20 lakh crore in the water sector through government resources in partnership with private innovators, start-ups and water-user associations. This will try to improve the groundwater level in India and implement the world's largest dam rehabilitation program. India is implementing two major missions to ensure universal access to sanitation and drinking water.

India's Jal Shakti Minister said that due to the country's unique geography, India is one of the largest users of groundwater in the world. Efforts are being made in India to restore groundwater levels and build an aware community by combining demand and supply side interventions through rural water security schemes. Behavioral change on water use and conservation is being promoted at the grassroots level.

He pointed out that India's ambitious National Mission for Clean Ganga or Namami Gange has recently been recognized as one of the top 10 programs for revitalizing the natural world by the Biodiversity Conference held in Montreal. The mission has brought about a paradigm shift in the overall approach of river rejuvenation, pollution abatement, protection of ecosystems and river basin management.