Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, inaugurated the 8th Edition of the India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre. Organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga), the three-day summit from November 22 to 24, 2023, is focused on the theme 'Development vis-à-vis Land, Water and Rivers.'
The summit brought together scientific experts, stakeholders, and government representatives to address the dynamic challenges and opportunities in India's water sector. Distinguished speakers included Ms Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, G. Asok Kumar, DG-NMCG, Igor Papic, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation from the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Vinod Tare, Founding head of cGanga, and Sanmit Ahuja (cGanga).
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari delivered a compelling address, highlighting three pivotal pillars of society- ethics, ecology and environment, and economics- and their integral role in shaping a sustainable future. He emphasized the importance of ecological initiatives, citing the availability of good experiments and technology. Gadkari outlined two significant philosophies for the future- conversion of knowledge into wealth and the conversion of waste into wealth. Gadkari provided examples, including the potential development of the Zuari river in Goa, emphasizing the boost to tourism and revenue generation.
Minister Igor Papic advocated for a holistic approach to technology development, emphasizing the need to incorporate social science and humanities. He underscored water's pivotal role in the sustainable management of society, addressing global challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.
Ms Debashree Mukherjee highlighted key issues and strategies within water security and management, addressing challenges posed by climate change and emphasizing efforts to improve river health, enhance water use efficiency in agriculture, and manage storage effectively. G. Asok Kumar, DG-NMCG, reiterated Namami Gange’s commitment to cleaning and rejuvenating the Ganga and its tributaries. He highlighted NMCG's implementation strategies as guiding principles for other cities facing similar challenges.
Reflecting on environmental changes, G. Asok Kumar emphasized the Ganga's unique significance and NMCG's commitment to its comprehensive rejuvenation with a budget of 40 thousand crores. The organization's achievements, including advanced technologies and the innovative River Basin Management Plan, were acknowledged.
NMCG's partnership with the Republic of Slovenia, facilitated by an MoU in 2019, aims to address complex challenges in river management within the Ganga basin. Kumar highlighted NMCG's international collaborations and innovative strategies.
Dr Vinod Tare, Founding head of cGanga, spoke about the summit's origin and objectives, emphasizing the concept of Samarth Ganga and introducing the term Aviral Ganga. He highlighted the success of these initiatives and India's projects addressing water challenges in other river basins. In a special session, G. Asok Kumar announced the upcoming launch of the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) in COP28 on December 10, 2023, in Dubai. He emphasized the alliance's global mission to transform rivers into catalysts for urban water management.
Day 1 of IWIS featured sessions on 'Samarth Ganga and Productive Land-I' and ‘Lifestyle for & Economics of Rivers-I.’ Concurrently, Day 1 of CITIS showcased technology pitches and the inauguration of an exhibition featuring innovative water solutions across various sectors.
The Jalaj Stall emerged as a central attraction, reflecting the enthusiasm of attendees keen on exploring disruptive, high-impact solutions for water, energy, waste, food, agriculture, and transport.
