C R Patil Vows to Set New Benchmarks in Water Conservation as Jal Shakti Minister

On June 11, 2024, Chandrakant Raghunath Patil assumed the role of Union Minister for the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Upon taking office, Patil extended his heartfelt gratitude to PM Modi for entrusting him with this pivotal responsibility.

Patil, who has served as a Member of Parliament for the Navsari Lok Sabha Constituency in Gujarat three times, emphasized his commitment to the conservation and enhancement of India’s water resources. In a message shared on social media, he described this mission as a "sacred goal," pledging to set new benchmarks in water conservation, sanitation, and management through collective efforts and advanced technology.

"It is a moment of immense pride and inspiration for me to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi sir for entrusting me with the responsibility of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. I express my deep gratitude for this important responsibility," Patil stated in a post on X. "Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we will understand the importance of water, conserve it and ensure rich water resources for future generations. Under the farsighted vision and inspirational leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister, we all will together transform water power into national power."

Patil’s political journey began in 1989 with his entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He initially served as the treasurer of the party’s Surat city unit, later advancing to the role of vice president. His organizational skills caught the attention of party leaders, leading to his appointment as the chairman of the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) in 1998 by then-Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.

Since winning the newly formed Navsari constituency in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Patil has successfully retained his seat. His most recent victory in the 2024 elections saw him triumph over his closest competitor by an impressive margin of 773,000 votes.

Upon taking charge of the Ministry, Patil, alongside Union Ministers of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna and Raj Bhushan Choudhary, received a comprehensive briefing from senior officials on the country's water situation and the various functions of the Ministry’s departments.

Key dignitaries at the event included Vini Mahajan, Secretary of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, among other senior officials.