Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, speaking in the All India State Water Minister’s Conference at Udaipur, stressed the need for adopting a long-term scientific approach for water security.

The Deputy CM, while addressing the conference organized on the topic ‘India@2047—A Water Secure Nation,’ underlined the need for a water crisis, the effects of climate change, and innovation-based solutions for effective water management.

He said, “A special policy should be framed for hill states facing the challenges posed by climate change along with the grant of a special financial package to Himachal for environmental protection since 65 percent of the area of the state is forest, which is under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, leaving limited land for developing projects.”

“Himachal Pradesh has a major contribution in water conservation, environment, and ecology in the form of conservation of forests, for which the state should be compensated by the Centre by way of a special package, and parameters of a central grant for the hill states should be made flexible due to its geographical difficult conditions.”

Citing scientific studies, he said that Himalayan glaciers were melting at the rate of 20-30 meters per decade, increasing uncertainty in river flow and volume and deepening the water crisis. “This is having a serious impact on drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation,” he said, emphasizing the need for climate-tolerant policies and advanced scientific intervention.”

Agnihotri stated, “We have to redraw our strategies and rely more on modern technology and innovations and look for alternatives, besides conserving traditional water sources.”

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