Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said “People in the country depend excessively on God and the Government, we need to awaken society through collective participation and awareness. The prosperity and growth of a nation lie in awakened minds and active public involvement.” He was speaking at the national conference ‘Nagpur Jal Samvad 2026’ held at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Civil Lines, on Sunday, during the silver jubilee celebrations of Purti Sinchan Samruddhi Kalyankari Sanstha. The conference focused on ‘Water conservation as a solution for farmer suicides-free Vidarbha’. Gadkari also emphasised that, water conservation efforts must move forward through an integrated approach involving public participation, artificial intelligence and co-ordination among Government agencies.

 

Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Co-operation, Maharashtra, Adv Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Finance, Maharashtra and Sudhir Mungantiwar, MLA were prominently present. Gadkari said, farm ponds excavated for supplying soil required in National Highway projects across West Vidarbha have significantly improved water conservation and groundwater storage in the region. He noted that, the initiative, started in Vidarbha through public participation and voluntary labour, is now being expanded nationwide. Stressing that water conservation is essential to curb farmer suicides in Vidarbha, Gadkari said, farmers have the potential to become not only food providers, but also producers of fuel, bitumen, green hydrogen and aviation fuel.

 

He also mentioned the plantation of Bamboo in wastelands as a rich source of sustainable agriculture resource. Several experts shared their views during the conference Padma Bhushan Anil Prakash Joshi said that, just as Gadkari connected the nation through roads, similar efforts should connect the country through water resources. He stressed that, water conservation must be linked with forests and the ecosystem. Swedevino Natso, water and environment expert from Kohima, Nagaland, emphasised integrating traditional knowledge with modern science. K K Chhatradhara, Co-ordinator, North-East India Water Talks (NEIWT), from Assam, highlighted the need to minimise the impact of El Nino and proposed the concept of ‘River Basin-based Governance’. Sethpal Singh explained methods of cultivating ‘Singada’ (water chestnuts) using minimal water.

 

Padma Shri Umashankar Pandey spoke on preserving soil texture and preventing freshwater from flowing into the sea. Dr Pankaj Bhoyar referred to the ‘Tamaswada Pattern’ in Wardha district and assured implementation of Gadkari’s ideas at the grassroots level. Ashish Jaiswal said, the State Government is working to increase Maharashtra’s forest cover to 33 per cent and added that, plans are being designed to utilise DPDC funds for water conservation projects. Others present were MLAs Charansingh Thakur, Umesh Yavalkar, Shyam Khode, Sameer Meghe, Sameer Kunawar, Dr Ashish Deshmukh, Deorao Bhongale, Parinay Fuke, Pravin Datke, Prof Anil Sole among others. Experts and delegates from 19 states attended the conference.