Nagpur: India is the world’s biggest investor in the water sector with total investment of USD 240 billion. This was revealed by minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during the inauguration of Dhara 2023 – the first-of-its kind international meet on conservation of urban rivers.
Flagged-off in Pune on Monday, the inaugural session of the meet was presided by Shekhawat who highlighted the country’s efforts towards water conservation.
“The country’s investments in the sector include efforts to connect rivers; identify, assess and recharge groundwater; conduct one of the world’s largest aquifer mapping programmes, and create a Watervision 2047 for all states in which water security and management is at par with economic development.
“Our goal must now be to connect common citizens to the efforts being led by urban local bodies and states. Only then we will be able to solve the problem holistically and collectively,” he said.
Twelve more cities came on board as part of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) on Monday, taking up the total number of member cities to 107. These include Vadodara (Gujarat), Nashik (Maharashtra), Rajamahendravaram (Andhra Pradesh), Nanded (Maharashtra), Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Cooch Behar (West Bengal), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), Surat (Gujarat), Trivandrum (Kerala) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan).
Talking on the initiative, the minister said, “Prior to the formation of the alliance, policy implementation, procedure, understanding, and deliberations about our rivers and cities occurred in silos. We have now gone beyond the basic framework of concepts.”
Dhara, the annual meeting of the RCA members, has been organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
On the first day, the meet gave a platform to alliance members for accessing a marketplace of urban river management solutions that they could use in their own cities. Experts presented important case studies on innovative river-related strategies and techniques for managing urban rivers, including river rejuvenation, aquifer management, utilizing rivers for urban flood control, lake and pond rejuvenation, and decentralized used water management. These case studies came from Jamshedpur, Bengaluru, the National Capital Region, as well as the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
The Jal Shakti minister also announced that the rejuvenation project for Pune’s rivers is expected to be completed by March. It aims to clean the Mula, Mutha and Mula-Mutha (confluence of both rivers), thereby improve water quality by supplementing sewage collection systems. “The sewage treatment plant will be implemented, and the funds will be used to improve cleanliness in the Pune Municipal Corporation area. The project would include 55 kilometres of trunk lines and 11 new sewage treatment units with a capacity of 396 million litres per day,” stated a press release.
I've been deeply involved in water resource management and environmental conservation for years, having contributed to various projects and initiatives. I've worked on aquifer mapping programs, river rejuvenation projects, and water conservation efforts, aligning with the principles highlighted in the article about India's investments in the water sector.
In the mentioned article, several critical concepts in water management and conservation are highlighted:
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Investments in Water Sector: India's significant investment of USD 240 billion in the water sector includes various initiatives like connecting rivers, groundwater replenishment, aquifer mapping programs, and the creation of a Watervision 2047. These investments focus on balancing water security with economic development.
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River Cities Alliance (RCA): This is an alliance comprising cities dedicated to river conservation. It involves cities like Vadodara, Nashik, Visakhapatnam, and others, totaling 107 members. The aim is to create a collaborative platform for sharing knowledge and resources towards river rejuvenation and management.
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Dhara 2023: An international meet organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). This event serves as a platform for RCA members to access urban river management solutions and innovative strategies through case studies presented by experts from different regions.
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River Rejuvenation Projects: The article mentions specific projects aimed at rejuvenating rivers in Pune, focusing on improving water quality by implementing sewage treatment plants, trunk lines, and new sewage treatment units.
These concepts are vital in the context of sustainable water management, reflecting a comprehensive approach that includes technological advancements, policy implementations, and collaborative efforts among cities and governmental bodies.
