India and Netherlands work on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in water management
Amsterdam, July 21
A delegation led by K V L Kantha Rao, Secretary at the Jal Shakti ministry, visited the Netherlands to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of water management and for holding technical consultations on the Kalpasar Project in Gujarat.
According to the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands, the visiting team met Jaap Slootmaker, the Director General in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and held discussions at the RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), TU Delft and Deltares.
"A delegation led by the Secretary of India's Ministry of Jal Shakti, Mr. K V L Kantha Rao, visited the Netherlands (14 to 17 July 2026) to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of water management, and for technical consultations on the Kalpasar Project. Among other engagements, the team met with the Director General in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management Mr. Jaap Slootmaker and had fruitful discussions at the RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), TU Delft and Deltares. The delegation also conducted field visits, including a tour of the Afsluitdijk project," the Embassy wrote on X.
In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Afsluitdijk Dam along with his Netherlands counterpart Rob Jetten and praised the country for doing a 'pioneering work' in water management.
According to PM Modi, an area in which the Netherlands has done exceptional work is water resources and there is a lot the entire global community can learn from them.
"We are working to bring modern technology to India aimed at helping in irrigation, flood control and expanding the inland waterway network," PM Modi said.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi's visit to the dam highlighted the relevance of Dutch expertise for India's Kalpasar Project in Gujarat which aims to create a freshwater reservoir and dam near the Gulf of Khambhat. The visit also underscored opportunities for deeper Indo-Dutch collaboration in climate resilience, water technology and sustainable infrastructure.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see our government focusing on water management, but I hope these high-level visits translate into real benefits for farmers and villages facing water scarcity. The Afsluitdijk project is impressive, but we need solutions that work in our diverse Indian conditions too.
As someone who's seen Dutch water infrastructure firsthand, this is a smart move by India. The Netherlands has turned a challenge into an opportunity. India, with its diverse geography, can definitely learn from their integrated approach. Hope the Kalpasar Project gets the technology it needs.
Been following the Kalpasar Project for years - it's an ambitious plan to create a freshwater reservoir in the Gulf of Khambhat. Getting Dutch expertise makes perfect sense. But we also need to focus on traditional water conservation methods like stepwells and rainwater harvesting. Blend of modern and traditional would be ideal.
This is wonderful news! The Netherlands is world-class in water management, and India has massive needs in irrigation, flood control, and inland waterways. PM Modi's visit to the Afsluitdijk Dam shows serious intent. Looking forward to seeing Indian rivers and coasts benefit from this collaboration.
While international cooperation is great, I hope our domestic water management issues aren't being ignored. Many Indian cities still struggle with basic water supply and drainage. Let's use this Dutch partnership to also develop local expertise and create affordable solutions for our urban and rural areas.
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