Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked States to resolve inter-State water disputes through cooperation, timely clearances and technology-based monitoring, and said the Ken-Betwa project should serve as a model for the same.
Chairing the 51st PRAGATI meeting, where seven critical infrastructure projects across railways, power and road sectors covering nine States worth around ₹30,000 crore were reviewed on Wednesday (May 27, 2026), he underlined that delay in implementation of public projects leads not only to cost escalation but also deprives citizens of timely access to essential facilities.
“During yesterday’s PRAGATI session, projects worth over ₹30,000 crore were reviewed. The works covered sectors like railways, power and road connectivity. Aspects relating to ports, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and other social sector schemes were also discussed,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X on Thursday (May 28, 2026).
While reviewing the Ken-Betwa river inter-linking project, he said it should serve as a model for other States to resolve inter-State water issues through cooperation, timely clearances, technology-based monitoring and mission-mode execution, an official statement said. States were encouraged to identify similar opportunities where river-linking, water conservation, groundwater recharge and efficient irrigation can be taken up in an integrated manner to ensure long-term water security, the statement said.
Platform to integrate efforts
PRAGATI is an ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform aimed at fostering pro-active governance and timely implementation, by seamlessly integrating efforts of the Union and State governments. The seven critical infrastructure projects are pivotal to economic growth and public welfare and these were reviewed with a focus on timelines, inter-agency coordination, and timely issue resolution.
Mr. Modi also reviewed the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. While reviewing power sector projects, he emphasised the need to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across urban areas, with a special focus on cities, residential clusters and public institutions. Mr. Modi said that rooftop solar should be taken up in mission mode to reduce electricity costs, improve energy security and promote clean energy at the household and community level.
Also Read : What is the status of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0? | Explained
While reviewing road and port connectivity projects, it was emphasised that the Vadhavan Port should be developed as a model of port-led, multi-modal development, where every major mode of transport is seamlessly integrated to create a future-ready logistics ecosystem. The project should not be seen merely as a port, but as a national gateway connected through coastal shipping, inland waterways, dedicated freight corridors, high-speed rail connectivity, highways and airport linkages.
On Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0
The Prime Minister emphasised the need for effective implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, underlining that it should move beyond infrastructure creation and ensure measurable outcomes through regular monitoring, citizen participation and convergence between various stakeholders.
He asked the States to expedite the completion of solid waste management-related infrastructure, including waste processing plants and GOBARdhan plants.
He said that every delay has a direct impact on people’s lives, regional growth and public resources and stressed that central ministries, departments and states must adopt a more proactive and time-bound approach to resolve pending issues, remove bottlenecks and ensure faster execution.
The Prime Minister also emphasised that innovative use of canal networks should be explored, including installation of solar panels along canals and over canals for clean electricity generation. This would help optimise land use, reduce evaporation losses, generate renewable energy and create additional economic value from water infrastructure.
Monthly review
At the beginning of the meeting, Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan said that in pursuance of the directions of the Prime Minister, a system of monthly review of social sector schemes at the State level has also been operationalised.
This mechanism aims to ensure regular monitoring, faster resolution of implementation issues and greater accountability at the State and district levels. As part of this initiative, the Swachh Bharat Mission has been taken up for review at the State level in the first instance.
Published – May 28, 2026 04:46 pm IST
