Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil on Thursday, 8 October 2026, underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of embedding water literacy into India's academic framework — proposing water-specific content in school curricula and dedicated water management and governance courses at higher educational institutions. The remarks came as Paatil chaired the 20th Meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF) in New Delhi.

Education as a Tool for River Rejuvenation

Paatil stressed that integrating water studies into formal education can build a robust knowledge base and produce professionals equipped to address the ecological, social, cultural, economic, and policy dimensions of river management. He proposed that such courses be actively promoted at the city and state levels, and that students completing them be considered for river-related assignments in urban administrations.

This marks a notable policy direction — framing water conservation not just as an infrastructural challenge but as an educational and professional development priority, aligning with the Centre's broader push under the Namami Gange Programme.

Namami Gange: Progress at a Glance

As of August 2026, a total of 527 projects have been sanctioned under the Namami Gange Programme at a combined cost of ₹43,266 crore, of which 368 projects have been completed. On the sewerage front alone, 219 projects have been sanctioned, creating a treatment capacity of 6,603 MLD (million litres per day) and a sewer network spanning 5,245 km. Of these, 147 projects have been completed, delivering 4,339 MLD of sewage treatment capacity and 4,615 km of sewer network.

The figures reflect significant forward momentum, though a gap between sanctioned and completed projects — particularly in sewerage — signals execution challenges that persist across states.

Key Interventions Reviewed

The ETF meeting covered a wide range of river rejuvenation levers: improved sewage infrastructure, scientific water management, safe reuse of treated wastewater, ecological restoration, groundwater management, nature-based solutions, and stakeholder coordination. The status of detailed project reports (DPRs), land availability, aquifer mapping, wetlands, City Sanitation Action Plans (CSAPs), aerial drainage mapping, and State Ganga Committee meetings were all reviewed.

Notably, the revised DPR for the Barauni Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) has been received and forwarded to IIT-BHU for appraisal, while the DPR for Shantipur STPs in West Bengal has been approved by the Executive Committee. Bihar and West Bengal have already notified their policies on reuse of treated wastewater; Jharkhand is awaiting State Cabinet approval for its own policy.

Officials Present

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary; Department of Water Resources Secretary Archana Varma; Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Ashok K.K. Meena; and Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Rajeev Kumar Mital.

What's Next

With Jharkhand's treated wastewater reuse policy still pending Cabinet clearance and appraisal of key STPs under way, the pace of institutional action over the next quarter will be critical. The push to institutionalise water education at the school and college level, if translated into curriculum reform, could yield a generation of water professionals India urgently needs as river health and groundwater depletion become intensifying concerns.