Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil on Tuesday, 9 June briefed Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on the progress of India's major river interlinking projects and extended a formal invitation to the International Water Week, scheduled for September 2026. The meeting, held in New Delhi, covered a broad sweep of water conservation and resource management initiatives being pursued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Key River-Linking Projects Discussed

Radhakrishnan was apprised of the progress on three flagship river interlinking undertakings: the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project, and the Godavari-Cauvery Link Project. These projects are central to the government's strategy of redistributing water from surplus river basins to water-stressed regions across the country.

Paatil, joined by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, also presented updates on programmes including Namami Gange, the National River Conservation Plan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme.

JSJB 2.0: Surpassing Targets

The Vice President was briefed on Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), the Ministry's flagship community-driven water conservation initiative. Under JSJB 2.0, more than 1.55 crore water conservation and groundwater recharge structures have reportedly been created — significantly exceeding the original target, according to an official statement.

The initiative operates on a whole-of-society model, bringing together governments, communities, industries, and civil society organisations to strengthen groundwater recharge at scale. Radhakrishnan reportedly appreciated the programme's reach and participatory design.

VP's Call for Documentation and Regional Balance

Radhakrishnan underlined that river interlinking can play a transformative role in addressing water stress, mitigating droughts, expanding irrigation coverage, and ensuring balanced regional development across India's diverse geographies.

He also suggested that major national water infrastructure projects — particularly the Ken-Betwa Link Project — be comprehensively documented through documentaries and archival records, so that future generations can appreciate what he described as historic nation-building efforts.

What the Meeting Signals

The high-level briefing reflects the Centre's push to build political and institutional consensus around its long-pending river interlinking agenda. The Ken-Betwa Link Project, India's first inter-state river link under the National Perspective Plan, has been in the works for decades and only recently received financial clearance. Bringing the Vice President into the conversation signals an effort to elevate these projects beyond departmental silos into a national narrative.

The International Water Week in September 2026 is expected to serve as a platform for India to showcase its water infrastructure ambitions to a global audience, with river interlinking likely to feature prominently.