WATER INNOVATION SUMMIT

Confederation of Indian Industries organized “Water Innovation Summit” on 16th November 2015 at Hotel Leela Palace, New Delhi. Mr. Gyanendra Kumar Attri, Mr. Aishwary Sharma, Md. Tahir Rahman and Mr. Sumit Sengar, Asst. Professors from Civil Engineering Department Dronacharya Group of institutions, Greater Noida participated in this Summit. The objective of the Summit was to bring together top investors, utility executives, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and public sector leaders to focus on three innovation themes:

1. Integrated Water Management for Building Smart Cities

2. Water Security for make in India Mission,

3. How to save and secure our Water Ecosystems.

The requirement of water is looming large so as the challenges and risks. In the course of Summit, agriculture was recognized as one of the most important sectors in water management. This has gained high percentage of water which is being allocated to farming. According to Dr. Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair Professor for Agriculture, “Good model can bring together industry, academic, and farming communities to develop new technologies.” Potential solutions were also discussed which included precision irrigation, pump efficient solutions and use of treated waste water for irrigation. Topics like real-time monitoring of field yield, soil characteristics, moisture sensors and general equipment performance including pump were also discussed. He said that an area with great opportunities for new business establishment will cause a new generation of farmers to pay more attention to water and spearhead entrepreneurs to commercialize new technologies and companies.

He mentioned that the country has been witnessing rapid increase in population over the past few decades. Almost all cities and towns are facing problems related to growing water demand-supply gap, inadequate wastewater treatment as well as rainwater harvesting capacity, flood, over-exploited groundwater aquifers and polluted rivers and surface water sources.

Mr. Shashi Shekhar, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Govt.Of India proposed the guidelines which may also be applicable to smart cities being set up by the Central Government. He said that they are preparing such guidelines which will ensure and encourage recycling and judicious use of water so that fresh (potable) water is not consumed in maximum as it is being used today (for purposes other than drinking).Those guidelines would be applicable in all housing schemes as well as in all smart cities, and even in regular industrial use.

Mrs. Uma Bharti (Minister of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation) said that “The Government will start implementing Ken-Betwa national project as a model link project of interlinking of river programme after obtaining statutory clearance.” Mrs. Bharti also stressed on the need to interlink rivers for providing water to water-short, drought-prone and rainfed areas. She also informed that the Government was committed to implement the programme with the consensus and cooperation of concerned State Governments.

This Summit aspired to look into the aspect that India should be sensitized enough for water consumption. It is an imperative need to come together and take responsible actions to limit wasteful practices. It should also be realized that Water is not just the Spring of Life but Life in itself and we need to ensure its security. The Summit reviewed cross-cutting themes like financing, corporate partnerships, and regulation.

Vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. N K Ranganath, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Water and MD, Grundfos Ltd.