Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has called on irrigation experts to discuss the idea of widening canals to transfer water between basins. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan that is technically feasible, economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally friendly in order to achieve sustainable water management.
YS Jagan and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended the opening session of the ICID Congress in Visakhapatnam. The Indian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (INCID) is organizing the event until November 8, 2023.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Andhra Pradesh is a riverine state with many rivers, and the government is committed to utilizing irrigation potential in drought-prone areas to increase agricultural productivity. He also mentioned the challenges faced by the state, such as frequent droughts in certain regions and water shortages during lean monsoon years.
YS Jagan suggested that addressing water scarcity in agriculture should involve micro irrigation and sprinklers, but also emphasized the need for a larger discussion on transferring water between basins during the monsoon season. He urged experts to come up with a cost-effective concept for efficient water transfer.
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat praised India’s revolutionary changes in the irrigation sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He highlighted the conservation efforts being made at dams across the country and the enforcement of the Dam Safety Act. Shekhawat also emphasized the importance of judicious water usage for future generations.
