At the Raisina Dialogue at New Delhi today, I had the privilege of participating in the launch of
“A Vision of Water Governance for Viksit Bharat@2047: Markets, Institutions, and Imperatives.”
Authored by Nilanjan Ghosh and Ambar Kumar Ghosh and published by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with Bisleri, the report makes a strong case for integrated, basin-based water governance as India moves toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
Following the launch, I joined a panel discussion with distinguished voices:
D. N. Dhungyel - Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Bhutan,
Ngwaru Jumanne Maghembe - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanzania
Anna-Katharina Hornidge - Director, German Institute of Development and Sustainability
Archna Vyas - Country Director, Gates Foundation
Moderated by Chandrika Bahadur - CEO, The Antara Foundation.
A key question we explored:
What role should industry play in shaping the next phase of Sustainable Development Goals?
My view is simple:
The SDGs created shared global ambition. The next phase must deliver local relevance.
For that to happen, industry must move from participant to co-designer.
SDGs ultimately succeed or fail on financing, execution, and measurement - areas where industry brings scale and capability. From circular infrastructure and renewable energy transitions to watershed restoration, industry can turn sustainability from ambition into outcomes.
A moment that continues to stay with me comes from Ladakh.
While partnering the Ladakh Marathon, one realises a simple truth: at 11,000 ft: water is not a convenience - it is survival.
A single restored reservoir can enable farmers to cultivate again and families to remain in their villages.
This insight led to our “Reservoirs of Hope” initiative — restoring one water body every year. Last September, we completed the third reservoir, each with a capacity of 25 million litres, helping restore local livelihoods.
Ultimately :
Global goals succeed only when they create local impact.
The Sustainable Development Goals built shared ambition.
The next phase must deliver change communities can actually see, feel, and benefit from.
Read the report here:
https://lnkd.in/gvkJRsza
#RaisinaDialogue #WaterGovernance #SDGs #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #ClimateAction #ViksitBharat2047
