VP Radhakrishnan Ties Water Security to National Security at Water Week

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week 2026 in Delhi on Tuesday, framing water security as inseparable from national security and calling for concerted efforts to conserve water for future generations.

Speaking at the opening of the five-day event, Radhakrishnan said thinkers worldwide have cautioned that any future global conflict could be fought over water. He pointed to rising population and expanding urbanisation as pressures that make conservation a concern for all of humanity rather than for a single city or region, and urged citizens to conserve, store, manage and use water resources wisely for future generations and all living beings.

On water management, the Vice President advocated an integrated approach that can cope with both heavy rainfall and extended dry spells, bringing together river-basin management, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation.

River linking push

Radhakrishnan, who said water is a subject close to his heart, recalled a 19,000-km Rathyatra he undertook in Tamil Nadu more than two decades ago around a five-point programme, the foremost being the linking of rivers. He argued that connecting the Ganges with the Cauvery would address the country's water needs and help balance floods in one region against drought in another. He said he had discussed the matter in detail with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his time as a Member of Parliament, and more recently with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil. Quoting Tamil poet Subramania Bharatiyar, he underlined the value of sharing the resources of the Ganga and Cauvery, and said the theme of this year's Water Week, 'Climate Resilient Water Management', is highly relevant.

Turning to disputes among states over water sharing, Radhakrishnan noted that while such disagreements are being settled, parts of the country simultaneously face drought-like conditions and floods. He said 10 inter-state MoUs on water-sharing have been signed under Prime Minister Modi's government, citing the Ken-Betwa and Kishau projects as examples of cooperation, and congratulated Patil and his ministry for resolving disputes.

With India aiming to become a developed economy by 2047, the Vice President said efficient and sustainable water management will be critical, noting that agriculture accounts for more than 80 per cent of water use while industrial demand is also rising, making greater water-use efficiency, recycling and reuse important. No single institution, sector or state can tackle water issues alone, he said, calling for a multi-stakeholder, multi-dimensional approach combining technological innovation, sound policy, scientific knowledge, local experience and community participation. He expressed confidence that the deliberations would yield innovative technological, political, socio-economic and environmental approaches for climate-resilient integrated water management, adding that water security leads to public security and national security.

Holistic view urged

Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil stressed the need for a holistic approach, observing that water does not stay within boundaries — rivers cross regions, groundwater links communities, and excess or deficient rainfall causes floods or droughts far from where it occurs. Referring to a recent incident in the Himalayan region and the 2023 disaster in Sikkim, he said such events are a reminder that the risks linked to climate change are themselves changing.

The five-day event, organised by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, will feature 49 sessions across various themes in the water sector.