Mr CR Patil, Minister of Jal Shakti, Govt of India today while applauding the Union Cabinet’s approval on additional Rs 1.51 lakh crore for the completion of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) urged the industry to adopt measures to ensure water conservation and water storage.
Addressing the 13th edition of FICCI Water Awards, Mr Patil added that out of the total water consumption in India, around 83 per cent of water consumption is in the agricultural sector, 14 per cent for the community and just 2.5 per cent goes to industrial sector. “The industry needs to be proactive in ensuring water safety and focus on reuse of water on a long-term basis,” he emphasized.
The Minister further stated that India is planning to divert surplus water from the Indus river system to Punjab, J&K, Himachal, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan to ensure water availability. This will further help in solving the water crisis, he added.
Mr Sumant Narain, Joint Secretary, National Water Mission, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI said that public participation in the water sector needs to be strengthened. Industry can play a crucial role in advancing these efforts, as it has both the technology and capacity to drive the transition towards circular water management and a sustainable industrial future, he added.
Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Chair, FICCI Water Mission and Past President, FICCI said, “It is essential to build a future where every drop of water is valued, reused, and reintegrated into productive systems. This must be central to India’s ambitions for sustainable growth, climate resilience, and long-term resource security.”
Dr Mihir Shah, Chair, FICCI Water Awards Jury 2025 said that the industry is willing to support the government initiatives. We are working to focus on carrying forward the best practices in water sector and scaling them, he noted.
