New Delhi, May 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on states to resolve inter-state water disputes through cooperation, faster clearances and technology-led monitoring, saying major projects like the Ken-Betwa river link should become national benchmarks for execution and coordination.
Chairing the 51st PRAGATI meeting, Modi reviewed seven large infrastructure projects spanning railways, power and road sectors across nine states, worth around ₹30,000 crore. He warned that delays in public projects not only push up costs but also deprive citizens of essential services.
In a post on X, he said the review covered transport connectivity, ports, sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, and other social sector schemes. The PRAGATI platform is used to monitor and accelerate the implementation of key government projects.
Officials said the Prime Minister highlighted the Ken-Betwa river inter-linking project as a model for resolving water-sharing issues. He urged states to adopt integrated planning for river linking, groundwater recharge and irrigation to improve long-term water security.
Modi also pressed for mission-mode expansion of rooftop solar in cities, residential areas and public institutions to cut power costs and strengthen energy security. He said clean energy adoption must be accelerated at the household level.
On infrastructure, he reviewed road and port connectivity projects, including the Vadhavan Port, which he said should be developed as a fully integrated logistics hub linked with railways, highways, inland waterways and airports.
He stressed that Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 should go beyond building infrastructure and deliver measurable outcomes through monitoring, citizen participation and faster execution of waste management systems, including GOBARdhan plants.
Modi reiterated that delays in governance projects directly impact people’s lives and regional development. He urged central ministries and states to adopt a more proactive approach to remove bottlenecks and ensure timely completion.
He also suggested innovative use of canal networks, including solar panels over canals, to generate renewable energy, reduce evaporation and improve land efficiency.
At the start of the meeting, Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan said monthly state-level reviews of social sector schemes have been operationalised to improve accountability and speed up implementation.
