Finance
On Wednesday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the National Departmental Summit on Water in New Delhi, which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said the summit reaffirmed the spirit of ‘Team India’ and cooperative federalism in addressing the country’s water challenges through collective action, innovation and people’s participation.
Highlighting the importance of agriculture to Odisha’s economy, Majhi underlined that strengthening water security and irrigation remains a key priority for the state. He noted that the government is accelerating irrigation infrastructure, promoting water conservation and groundwater recharge, strengthening Pani Panchayats, and embracing technology for efficient water management.
“Inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Jan Bhagidari, we remain committed to building a water-secure and Samruddha Odisha,” Majhi said.
The two-day National Departmental Summit on Water, organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on September 1-2, 2026, was the first in a series of similar summits aiming at strengthening Centre-State coordination. It brought together ministers and senior officials from states and union territories to discuss water security, infrastructure projects, conservation, source sustainability, and rural drinking water initiatives.
Prime Minister Modi presided over the valedictory session, calling for a constant evaluation of actionable outcomes, increased public participation through initiatives such as “Jal Utsav,” adoption of water-saving technologies, and the application of AI for strong water data governance.
Odisha has been focusing on extending irrigation coverage and community-led water management through Pani Panchayats as part of its long-term water security strategy.
