Linking the Independence Day and unfurling of the tri-colour with the monsoons, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday referred to the anxiety the nation had to pass through due to delayed rains.

"This day comes for us in the middle of the monsoons. Each year when we meet here and see the tiranga being unfurled on the Red Fort, we also look at the clouds above and wonder whether it would rain," the erudite prime minister remarked in his maiden Independence Day address to the nation.

This year, he said, was no different.

He recalled his recent visit to Andhra Pradesh and Assam and Bihar to understand the impact of drought and floods, 'to hold the hands of the families that had lost their breadwinner due to the unbearable burden of debt'.

Promising more steps in future to deal with drought and floods, he said, "In Andhra Pradesh, for miles together I could see no water. In Assam and Bihar, for miles without end I could see only water."

Terming these two as perennial and fundamental problems bringing sufferings to rural populace, Singh stressed on the need for concerted action to deal with them.

Terming drought and floods as perennial problems that continue to bring suffering to the rural populace, he said, "Our government has already taken steps to deal with them. We intend to take more steps in future. We need to insulate people from the impact of drought by creating local level water security."

Asserting his commitment to increase public investment in irrigation and address the specific problems of each river basin in an environment and people friendly manner, he said people must be mobilised to meet the challenge of water conservation and management.

Modern science must be used to address the needs of dry land farming, crop diversification, micro-irrigation and quality of livestock, he added.

Identifying drought and floods as perennial problems that needed to be addressed at once, Singh urged all political leaders to take a holistic view to meet the challenges related to managing river water.

"We cannot allow these waters to divide us. I urge you and all our political leaders to take a national and a holistic view of the challenge of managing our water resources," he said in his maiden Independence Day address to the nation.

Listing water as one of the seven sutras (seven-pillars) for development, Singh described it as a national resource that is scarce and should be equitably used. He stressed that water utilisation practices require an integrated view.

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"We are committed to increasing public investment in irrigation and addressing the specific problems of each river basin, in an environment and people friendly manner", he said.

The prime minister said there was a need to insulate the people from the impact of drought by creating local level water security. People have to be mobilised to come forward to take up the challenge of water conservation and management. 

The prime minister said waters of sacred rivers has for centuries nurtured India's civilisation and they are the threads that run through the fabric of the nation.

To deal with the problem of water was an important commitment made by the government as part of its 'New Deal for Rural India'. It must also encompass investment in irrigation and modernisation of infrastructure for agriculture.