“First interlinking project on developing River Ken-Betwa link that join U.P. and M.P. to begin in January 2016”, said Hon’ble Union Minister Sushri Uma Bharti
“Government committed to Nirmal Ganga; asked industry to support its maintenance”
‘Shared vision between India and Bangladesh a must for ensuring regional prosperity’, said Mr Anisul Islam Mahmud, Minister for Water Resources, People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Sushri Uma Bharti, Hon’ble Union Minister for Water Resources, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, reiterated the efforts that the Government is undertaking for restoring River Ganga. She said her Ministry has a mandate to meet the October 2018 deadline of making Ganga Nirmal, said at the First Water Innovation Summit organized by CII-Triveni Water Institute, at New Delhi today.
The delays and failures in implementation of schemes in the past for river cleaning were mainly due to a dual financial model i.e., central-state financial model, DPRs not getting completed on time and lack of ownership and responsibility amongst stakeholders.
All these gaps are now being internalized where a new financial model of implementation is likely to emerge that ensures100% Central Sector Scheme and allocation of 20,000 crores straight from the Central pool.
In her special address at the CII Triveni Water Institute’s First Water Innovation Summit, the Minister said that Cleaning Ganga is a collective responsibility. River cleaning of Indian rivers will follow multiple successful models implemented across the world that include, Israel model of water management, Australian (Murray-Darling) model of River water management, Rhine and Thames model of River cleaning. India is learning and innovating from these approaches to develop a unique approach customized to Indian conditions with full regard to its culture.
The Minister applauded the work undertaken by CII-Triveni Water Institute especially in the areas of water audits and watershed projects. She said her Ministry looks forward to CII and the Indian industry to partner in ensuring not only successful implementation of its Ganga program but more importantly, also that Ganga remains Nirmal in the future as well. This is where a focus on a participatory collective approach will be required.
Mr Anisul Islam Mahmud, Minister for Water Resources, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, speaking at the inaugural session of the First edition of the CII-Triveni’s Water Innovation Summit, talked about the need for having a shared vision between India and Bangladesh for managing the precarious water resource.
Water resources are increasingly facing stress over time and a regional approach is required for tackling the issues. Both surface and groundwater resources run across political boundaries reflecting the importance of a unified approach for sustaining livelihoods, human wellbeing and socio-economic development, he said.
Mr Shashi Shekhar, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, addressing the Water Innovation Summit called for the need to conserve and manage water resources effectively through adoption of watershed management approaches, reuse and recycle of sewage and improved water use efficiency across sectors.
As his message to the industry, he said it was important to use water effectively to reduce it’s proliferate use. Almost 60% water can be saved in several industrial applications through simple implementable measures, reiterated Mr. Shekhar.
Mr Onno Ruhl, Country Director, The World Bank, in his address stated that it is not only important to ‘Make India water secure’ but also ‘Keep India Water Secure’. Speaking at the Inaugural session of CII- Triveni Water Institute’s Water Innovation Summit, Mr. Ruhl, mentioned that ‘Innovations need to be adapted to the realities in India’. The increasing water challenges can be addressed through ‘innovations’ that can help manage water scarcity concerns.
Mr Dhruv Sawhney, Chairman, CII-Triveni Water Institute and Past President CII & CMD Triveni Engineering Industries Ltd., in his address mentioned that initial 30-35 percent of water and wastewater savings is achievable through very low to low cost measures. Water Audits undertaken by CII have resulted in water savings of 80 billion litres, equivalent to supplying drinking water to entire rural population of India for a day, said Mr. Sawhney.
He also talked about the need for having an integrated river basin and watershed approaches for water resource management, besides the need for imparting training and skill development to wastewater operators and managers. India Water Tool, an online Tool developed by CII in partnership with WBCSD and industry, is presently being refined. This Tool is a powerful means for screening water risks to industry.
New Delhi
16th November 2015