Although India has only 4% share in the world’s renewable water resources, it has to meet the water needs of 18% of the global population. Hence, every single drop of water must be conserved carefully, said Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Shri Pemmasani Chandrasekhar.

Speaking at the National Watershed Conference being held in Guntur, the Minister explained the importance of water conservation. He stated that three-fourths of India’s annual rainfall occurs only in four months from June to September and called upon everyone to carefully harvest, store and optimally utilise every drop during this period.

The Minister expressed immense pride and happiness that the National Watershed Conference was being organised in his own constituency, adding that the event brings together intellectuals and grassroots warriors working to rejuvenate watershed systems in one place. He remarked that India’s history has always been linked to the monsoon – abundant rains bring prosperity, while failure leads to drought and hardship.

Highlighting the growing water scarcity, the Minister said per-capita water availability, which stood at 1,486 cubic metres in 2021, is projected to fall to 1,367 cubic metres by 2031, pushing the country into the “water-stressed” category. He stressed the need for zero tolerance towards water wastage, just as there is zero tolerance towards terrorism.

India possesses only 4% of the world’s water resources but supports 18% of the global population. Due to this pressure, the 2016 drought affected nearly 33 crore people, the Minister recalled. Ineffective watershed management leads to floods during monsoon, droughts in summer, accelerated soil erosion, reduced farmers’ income and severe urban water crises, Shri Pemmasani pointed out.

Keeping in view Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s oft-repeated statement “Water Security is National Security”, the Government is giving utmost priority to water conservation through WDC-PMKSY (Watershed Development Component – Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana), he added.

Outstanding results from WDC-PMKSY 1.0

The Minister stated that the first phase of WDC-PMKSY (1.0) delivered outstanding results. He mentioned that annual agricultural income increased by ₹19,454 crore — 6.2 times the investment. Farmers’ incomes rose by 70%, milk production went up by 40%, and groundwater levels improved by an average of 3 metres. The Minister further added that due to these successful efforts, soil moisture has increased significantly, enabling second and third crop cultivation in many areas. He said that both irrigation and drinking water sources have been strengthened as a result of this comprehensive initiative.

WDC-PMKSY 2.0 – Targets ahead

Currently, 1,220 projects are under implementation across 50 lakh hectares at a cost of ₹12,972 crore. The goal is to fully rejuvenate drought-prone and rainfed areas by 2026, the Minister informed. The “Watershed Yatra,” launched by Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has already reached 8.5 lakh farmers, demonstrating that when communities take the lead, transformation naturally follows, Shri Pemmasani Chandrasekhar stated.

“Let us share our successes, confront challenges, and co-create sustainable solutions together,” he urged while addressing the two-day National Watershed Conference being held in Guntur.

Urgent Call to Action

The Minister urged State Chief Executive Officers to review WDC–PMKSY 2.0 programmes, accelerate the works and deliver results. He described initiatives like Watershed Mahotsav and Mission Watershed Punarutthan as game-changers and called for active participation from line departments, Panchayati Raj Institutions, communities and private partners. Implementation alone is not enough; sustainability is critical, he stressed.

Andhra Pradesh Leads the Way

The Minister praised Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu Garu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan Garu for reviving stalled projects and injecting fresh momentum into rural development. In the new capital Amaravati, water bodies are being created even before construction begins, ensuring water security is built into the foundation.

WDC–PMKSY 3.0

Under the visionary guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the next phase—WDC–PMKSY 3.0—will integrate advanced science and technology, river rejuvenation, revival of traditional water-harvesting systems and expansion of benefits beyond project boundaries. The Minister invited policymakers, scientists, experts, public representatives and civil society organisations to contribute ideas and shape WDC–PMKSY 3.0 at this forum.

Conclusion

Reiterating that the Union Government stands ready with funding, technical support and flexible guidelines, Shri Pemmasani Chandrasekhar called upon States to lead with convergence, deep community participation and long-term commitment. “Watershed development is not just about building check-dams; it is about rebuilding the ecological foundation of rural India, creating certainty in an uncertain climate, and transforming rainwater from a liability (floods) into an asset (groundwater recharge and soil moisture),” he said.

Let us all work together to transform India from a water-stressed nation to a water-secure nation.

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