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15th Meeting of the Review Committee of Narmada Control Authority  

New Dimensions of Interstate Water Cooperation Established under the Guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Decades-old Pending Water Agreements Materialise Through Consensus, Coordination, Cooperation, and Trust –

 Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil

Ensuring Water Availability for Drinking and Irrigation is the State Government's Goal; Better Utilisation of Narmada Water to Provide Relief to Water-Scarce Areas; Project Report Being Prepared for Storing Surplus Narmada Water – Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma

Jaipur, 27 October: The 15th meeting of the Review Committee of the Narmada Control Authority was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, along with senior officials, attended the meeting virtually via video conferencing.

Union Minister C. R. Paatil stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, new dimensions of interstate water cooperation have been established to resolve issues pending for years. The agreement reached on 7 July 2026 in New Delhi in the presence of the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra is being effectively implemented. He added that decades-old water agreements have taken shape through mutual consensus, coordination, cooperation, and trust.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma stated that the state government is working with absolute commitment to utilize the surplus water available during the monsoon period under the 1979 Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared for the storage of this surplus water. The objective is to conserve the additional water that goes to waste during the monsoon and meet the rising demands of the water-scarce regions of the state.

The Chief Minister highlighted that under the guidance of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, excellent coordination with the Central Government and neighboring states has established new milestones in interstate water cooperation. Historic pacts like the Ramjal Setu Link Project and the Yamuna Water Agreement have brought new hope to water-scarce regions. Simultaneously, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have taken commendable steps under the Narmada Project in the true spirit of cooperative federalism.

Narmada Canal Project: A Unique Model of Water Efficiency

The Chief Minister asserted that Rajasthan has established a unique model of water efficiency under the Narmada Canal Project. An initiative has been taken to make the sprinkler irrigation system mandatory across the entire command area, reaching the remotest locations of Jalore and Barmer districts. Due to this micro-irrigation technique, water wastage has become negligible. Furthermore, the target of 40% irrigation intensity within the 2.46 lakh hectares of arable command area is being efficiently achieved. This has resulted in a remarkable increase in crop yields for farmers. This initiative serves as an outstanding example of efficient water conservation and utilization for the entire country.

He emphasized that water management is not merely a requirement of the present but the foundation for a secure future for generations to come. In a desert state like Rajasthan, water is not just a natural resource but the lifeline of development, the economy, agriculture, animal husbandry, and public life. Ensuring the availability of water for drinking and irrigation, especially in Western Rajasthan, remains among the topmost priorities of the state government.

The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Union Jal Shakti Minister as well as the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra for their positive cooperation.

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Anisha/Brajesh