Sikkim Minister Ven. Sonam Lama meets Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in Delhi

Minister Ven. Sonam Lama met with Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, in New Delhi on July 9. The meeting was held to discuss key matters related to water resource management, rural water supply schemes, and public health engineering (PHE) in the Himalayan state.

During the discussion, Minister Lama spoke about the need for enhanced support from the central government to accelerate water-related projects in Sikkim. He highlighted challenges posed by the state’s difficult terrain and the impacts of climate change on its fragile ecosystems, which make efficient water management both essential and urgent.

The dialogue also covered ongoing and upcoming PHE and drinking water supply projects, many of which aim to improve water accessibility in remote and rural regions of the state. Minister Lama sought central assistance in terms of both funding and technical expertise to ensure these projects are completed within schedule and meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability.

Union Minister C.R. Patil assured full cooperation from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, expressing his commitment to strengthening the Centre-State partnership. He acknowledged the importance of water security in a strategically significant state like Sikkim and welcomed proposals aimed at achieving long-term sustainability in water resources.

The ministers also deliberated on avenues to improve coordination between central agencies and the Sikkim state government, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development and capacity building. Minister Lama underscored the importance of community participation and the need for climate-resilient systems that can withstand extreme weather events and natural disasters, such as landslides and flash floods, which frequently affect the state.