'Future generations will evaluate us', PM Modi said about Gujarat- I never saw such heavy rain during my tenure as Chief Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the importance of water conservation and said that it is not just a policy but also an effort and a virtuous deed. On the occasion of the launch of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan, the PM said that water will be the first parameter on which the coming generations will evaluate us.

On this occasion, the PM gave the mantra of Reduce, Reuse, Recharge, and Recycle for water conservation. Explaining this, Modi said that water can be saved only when its wastage is stopped, expenditure is reduced, it is reused, water sources are replenished and polluted water is cleaned.

Expressed concern over the flood situation

PM Modi expressed concern over the worsening situation due to floods in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and said that during his tenure as the CM of Gujarat, he had never seen or heard of such rain in every tehsil. Gujarat is facing a huge crisis this time. The departments were not fully prepared to deal with the situation. However, the people of the state and the country stood shoulder to shoulder.

Under the Jal Sanchay and Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan launched in Gujarat on Friday, more than 24 thousand structures are to be built for water conservation in the state. Addressing the ceremony virtually, the PM said that water is not just a resource, but a question of life and humanity. That is why water conservation is paramount in our nine resolutions for a safe future.

India can deal with the water crisis: PM Modi

Underlining the need for environmental and water conservation, the PM reminded that the country has only four percent of the world's drinking water. India has many big rivers, but a large geographical area is deprived of water and the water level is falling rapidly. Water scarcity and climate change have had a profound impact on people's lives.

Despite the challenging conditions, the PM also expressed confidence that only India has the capacity to deal with the water crisis for itself and the world. He said that water and environmental conservation are not just bookish things for us, but it is a part of our traditional and cultural consciousness. We consider water as a deity, rivers are goddesses for us and lakes are the abode of God. Water conservation and water donation is the highest sense of service.

'Earlier governments did not have any plan'

Recalling the situation of Saurashtra 25 years ago, the PM said that earlier governments did not have any vision for water conservation. The BJP government completed the Sardar Sarovar project which was pending for decades. Thousands of crores of rupees were spent on water-related projects in earlier governments, but meaningful results have been seen in the last 10 years. This is the result of the holistic society and holistic government approach. For the first time in the BJP government, the limited vision regarding water has ended. The formation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti was the result of this far-sighted thinking.

Appreciation of Jal Jeevan Mission

Underlining the success of the Jal Jeevan Mission being run to provide tap water to every household, the PM said that 10 years ago, during the UPA government, only three crore households had tap water connections, but today this number has crossed 15 crore. Now water has been supplied through taps to more than 75 percent of the rural households in the country.

Highest consumption in agriculture

The Prime Minister also reminded that about 80 percent of the country's water is used in agriculture. Therefore, agriculture must be designed in such a way that water consumption is reduced. The government is continuously promoting drip irrigation for this.