Embassy of India
Budapest
India-Hungary pre-JWG meeting on Water Resources
Press Release

A virtual India-Hungary pre-JWG meeting in the area of water was held on 20.11.2020 at 1000 CET and 1430 IST. The meeting was held in pursuance of the MoU signed between India and Hungary during the visit of the then Vice President of India in October 2016. Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti of India Mr. Gajender Singh Shekhawat had visited Budapest in October 2019 to participate in the Budapest Water Summit. Due to the pandemic situation, the Hungarian side could not visit India for the JWG meeting and same was held virtually. The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the water and its allied sectors and agreed to take forward a Work Plan for intensifying the cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Peter Kovacs, Water Director, Ministry of Interior of Hungary and Mr. Subodh Yadav, Joint Secretary (IC&GW), DoWR, RD&GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, India. The meeting also saw senior experts on the two sides deliberating on the issue of water and the challenges faced in optimal utilization of water.

India has an ambitious national programme on water (Jal Jeewan Mission) with a budgeted outlay of USD 51 billion to provide potable piped drinking water to every household in India by 2024. To augment the ground water situation, the Government of India is already implementing (Atal Bhu-jal Yojna) which is currently implemented in seven states of India in a participatory format. Both the sides highlighted their flagship schemes and programmes and sought opportunities for a collaborative approach in dealing with the issues of water management.

The Work Plan would focus on integrated water resource management, flood management, drought and water scarcity management, rejuvenation and recharge of water bodies and research and education, etc. through exchange of communications and Notes. The Work Plan would be signed in the next formal JWG meeting as an outcome document.

Holding of the per-virtual JWG meeting in the area of water is a significant step in India-Hungary bilateral relations, as it seeks to concretize the ongoing cooperation in water and its allied sectors. Some Hungarian companies are already present in India and more seek to enter its large domestic market, which provides the scale and opportunities galore for these companies.

Some photographs of the event are attached herewith.
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