Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan has called for responsible conservation, storage and management of water resources to secure the needs of future generations. Inaugurating the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 22, he stressed that water security is inseparable from people’s security and national security.
“Jal Suraksha will lead to Jan Suraksha and Rashtra Suraksha”
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President underlined that water is the foundation of life and civilisations. He urged citizens and stakeholders to use water judiciously, conserve it diligently and manage it effectively.
“We can take a bath using two buckets or twenty buckets. The choice is ours. We can close the tap while brushing our teeth. These may appear to be small things, but within these small actions lies the interest of humanity and the world,” he said.
He linked water security directly to broader security, stating: “Jal Suraksha will lead to Jan Suraksha and Rashtra Suraksha.”
Theme: Climate Resilient Water Management
The five-day event (September 22–26), organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is centred on the theme “Climate Resilient Water Management.” It brings together policymakers, global water leaders, experts, researchers, industry representatives, civil society and youth from India and abroad. The Netherlands and Germany are participating as partner countries.
Radhakrishnan highlighted the growing complexity of water challenges due to climate change, rapid urbanisation and population growth. India has only about 4% of the world’s freshwater resources while supporting 18% of the global population on 2.4% of the world’s land area.
He emphasised the need for an integrated approach that combines:
River-basin management
Groundwater recharge
Rainwater harvesting
Efficient irrigation
Systems must be capable of handling both excessive rainfall and prolonged dry spells, he noted.
River Linking and Collective Action
Recalling his long-standing advocacy for inter-linking of rivers, the Vice-President said water is a subject close to his heart. He referred to his earlier Rathyatra in Tamil Nadu and reiterated the vision of linking rivers such as the Ganga and Cauvery to balance water availability across regions and reduce the contrast between floods and droughts.
He also appreciated recent interstate Memoranda of Understanding on water sharing and the government’s focus on making water conservation a mass movement through initiatives such as “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari.”
On the occasion, he launched the Sustainable Urban River Management (SURM) Framework and an AI/ML-driven Integrated Reservoir Sediment Management initiative, signalling greater use of technology in water management.
Call for Partnerships and Innovation
The Vice-President expressed confidence that the deliberations at IIWW 2026 would generate innovative technological, policy, socio-economic and environmental solutions. He urged participants to share knowledge, build partnerships and commit to saving and conserving water for the benefit of present and future generations as well as all living beings.
Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil and other dignitaries were present at the inaugural ceremony. The event continues through September 26 with multiple forums, thematic sessions and an international exhibition focused on sustainable and climate-resilient water solutions.
India’s renewed push for water conservation at this global platform underscores the urgency of treating water as a shared national and planetary responsibility.