India’s commitment to sustainable water management
Water is the basis of life, an invaluable resource that sustains civilizations and ecosystems. Recognizing its importance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s commitment to water conservation and sustainable development on the occasion of World Water Day 2025.
Posting on Twitter (formerly Twitter), PM Modi emphasized the need to safeguard water resources and urged the nation to adopt responsible water use and make collective efforts to conserve it.
“On World Water Day, we renew our commitment to pursue water conservation and sustainable development. Water has been the foundation of civilizations, so it is essential to secure it for future generations,” he said.
His message is a reminder that water crisis and pollution are global problems that must be addressed urgently. With climate change and increasing demand for fresh water, it has become essential that countries adopt sustainable water management strategies to ensure it is available in the long term.
‘Catch the Rain – 2025’ campaign launched
As part of efforts to tackle the water crisis in India, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: ‘Catch the Rain – 2025’ was launched on Saturday in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Government of Haryana.
The ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign aims to promote rainwater harvesting and water conservation across the country. This year’s theme is “People’s Action for Water Conservation – Towards Intensified Community Engagement”, which reflects that community participation is essential to ensure water security.
Key objectives of ‘Catch the Rain – 2025’ campaign
- The Ministry of Jal Shakti has set some important goals for the ‘Catch the Rain – 2025’ campaign, which include:
- Promote water conservation and efficient water use to improve water security.
- Promote rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
- Involve local communities, governments and stakeholders in water management.
- Strengthening water conservation systems through structural reforms and preventing wastage of water.
This campaign will be implemented in 148 districts of India, with special focus on drought-prone areas and areas facing severe water crisis. Through collective efforts, this initiative aims to build a water-conscious society.
Water Conservation and Climate Change
The ‘Catch the Rain – 2025’ campaign has been launched keeping in mind the increasing impact of climate change, which is affecting global water resources. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts are having a serious impact on water availability and quality.
Challenges posed by climate change
- Declining groundwater level – Groundwater is rapidly depleting in areas receiving water through wells and tube wells due to overexploitation.
- Extreme weather changes – Erratic monsoons, floods and droughts are disrupting agriculture and water supply systems.
- Water pollution – Water resources are getting contaminated due to industrial waste, agricultural waste and plastic pollution.
Steps taken by India to tackle water crisis
To tackle these challenges, the Indian government has launched several water conservation programmes, including:
- Jal Jeevan Mission – Aims to provide tap connections to every rural household by 2024.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana – Focusing on groundwater management through community participation.
- Namami Gange Programme – Scheme dedicated to cleaning and revival of river Ganga and other water bodies.
Role of citizens in water conservation
While government policies and initiatives play a vital role, citizen participation is also extremely important to make water conservation a success. PM Modi’s message reminds us of the need for individual and community efforts for water conservation.
Easy ways to conserve water
Here are some effective ways in which we can contribute to water conservation in our daily lives:
- Rainwater Harvesting – Install rainwater harvesting systems at homes, schools and workplaces.
- Fix leaks and reduce water wastage – Fix leaks in taps, pipes and toilets.
- Use water-saving appliances – Use low-flow showers, taps and washing machines.
- Reuse water – Use water from washing clothes and dishes to irrigate and clean plants.
- Practice sustainable agriculture techniques – Use drip irrigation and rain-fed farming techniques.
- Protect water sources – Avoid dumping garbage and pollutants in rivers, lakes and ponds.
Significance of World Water Day
Global initiative for water conservation
World Water Day, which is celebrated annually on March 22, was established by the United Nations in 1993. It aims to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater resources and promote sustainable water management.
A key priority of the day is to support Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which aims to ensure clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Global water crisis
According to a United Nations report, 2.2 billion people across the world are still deprived of safe drinking water, while 4.2 billion people lack adequate sanitation facilities.
Conclusion: Water conservation is the responsibility of all of us
PM Modi’s message on World Water Day 2025 reminds us all that water conservation is not just the responsibility of the government but the duty of all of us. Through campaigns like ‘Catch the Rain – 2025’, India is rapidly moving towards water security and sustainable water management.
We too have to play an active role in this, so that we can conserve water for future generations. Let us pledge that “every drop is precious.”
