The Centre on March 26 convened a regional conference of State Water Secretaries to accelerate sustainable water resource management, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands among key participants in deliberations on project execution, flood management, and coastal challenges.
The meeting, chaired by V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, was held at the Dr MCR HRD Institute in Telangana. Senior officials from multiple states and Union Territories, including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, attended the day-long session.
The conference brought together policymakers and administrators on a single platform to review the progress of ongoing schemes and assess challenges in implementation across regions. Officials from the central department and heads of 15 major organisations also participated, focusing on improving coordination between the Centre and states.
Deliberations centred on evaluating the status of water resource projects, identifying bottlenecks, and addressing inter-state concerns. Officials from participating regions, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, presented updates on scheme implementation, outlined expectations from the Union government, and flagged operational constraints affecting project timelines.
The Secretary emphasised the need for integrated and sustainable planning of water resources, highlighting the importance of timely completion of ongoing projects. He called for reducing coordination gaps between the Centre and states to ensure that priority works progress within defined timelines.
He also urged states and Union Territories to actively contribute to the revision and restructuring of schemes for the next Finance Commission cycle, signalling a forward-looking approach to water governance.
Discussions extended beyond routine project reviews to include critical issues such as flood forecasting mechanisms and adherence to advisories issued by the Department of Water Resources. Key areas of focus included sediment management, salinity ingress in coastal regions, and implementation of provisions under the Dam Safety Act.
For coastal and island regions such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, concerns around salinity ingress and sustainable water management hold particular significance. The conference underscored the need for prioritised action in implementing technical advisories to address such region-specific challenges.
The Centre reiterated its commitment to providing comprehensive support for planning, development, and management of water resource projects across the country. The meeting also aimed to strengthen institutional partnerships and enhance coordination frameworks between central agencies and regional administrations.
Participating states and Union Territories were directed to streamline the implementation of key advisories and accelerate execution of projects on priority. The discussions are expected to inform policy adjustments and operational strategies aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability of water resources, particularly in vulnerable and geographically distinct regions like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
