J&K needs to move beyond the stage of rhetoric Divisional Commissioner Jammu's call for recharging the waning traditional water bodies to recover their lost irrigation potential particularly in consideration of arid and drought prone areas would certainly find favour among all the well-meaning citizens of the state. But at the same time, one would certainly wish that the concerned government agencies too without delay wake up to the grave situation and move beyond the stage of rhetoric to immediate well planned action in this connection. This certainly makes sense not to allow use of agricultural land for commercial purposes and to encourage use of irrigation water through extensive plantation besides exploring innovative water harvesting systems. It is crucial also because seed replacement is below 10 percent due to which food per capita production has been reduced to the level of 1967 which is highly alarming, given the ongoing food crisis. This is, however, ironical that the state, which is rich in natural resources and has water bodies in abundance, is faced with such a crisis. But it won't be needless to mention here that the crisis has been created by the persistent faulty policies, lackadaisical approach of those at the helm of affairs towards these crucial issues and dismal work culture, (official rhetoric apart). Otherwise what rationale could explain the inability of the successive state governments to take the optimum advantage of numerous central government schemes vis-a-vis water harvesting and restoration and preservation of water bodies. And this sad scenario is inspite of the fact that the Centre has always been overgenerous towards the state in doling out funds. The inefficiency of the concerned government agencies becomes more evident in wake of the fact that as compared to other states, for J&K besides North-East the central pattern for funding under these schemes is in the ratio of 90: 10. The state is supposed to spend only 10 percent. But most of the time given the sapdash approach of the concerned state departments, the funds either get lapsed or not released in time in the absence of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to be sent to Centre. De-silting is yet another problem vis-