New Delhi(Delhi) based National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh(UP) based Indian Institute of Technology – Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), and the Government of Denmark have launched a Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) Project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
- This initiative is part of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark, which aims to rejuvenate small rivers through innovative and sustainable approaches.
Note: The NMCG is part of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti(MoJS).
About the SLCR Project:
i.Aim: The SLCR project aims to rejuvenate the Varuna River by leveraging cutting-edge technology and international expertise.
ii.It creates a collaborative platform for government bodies, knowledge institutions and local communities to share insights and develop solutions for clean river water.
iii.It features a hybrid lab model at IIT-BHU and a field-based living lab at Varuna River to test and scale solutions in real-world settings.
Monitoring Authority:
i.The Indo-Danish Joint Steering Committee (JSC) is the highest-level forum for SLCR, providing strategic guidance and reviewing progress.
ii.The Project Review Committee (PRC), which includes members from the National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG), Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), IIT-BHU, and Denmark’s Urban Sector Counsellor, will monitor project quality control.
iii.The coordination efforts will be managed by the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (MSWG), chaired by the district magistrate of Varanasi and co-chaired by representatives from NMCG and IIT-BHU.
Funding:
The SLCR Secretariat would receive Rs. 16.80 crore in initial funding from the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), as well as Rs. 5 crore grant from Denmark to enhance long-term sustainability and project development.
Four Projects:
The Joint Steering Committee (JSC), chaired by Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director General (DG) of NMCG, and ,the First Secretary and Team Lead for Strategic Cooperation has approved four projects to be undertaken under the collaboration.
i.1st Project: The Decision Support System (DSS) will be developed for water management, with the goal of analysing basin water dynamics using advanced hydrological models and data analytics.
- It is a 2 to 3 year project that will integrate groundwater and hydrological models to develop a comprehensive river management plan.
ii.2nd Project: The second project focuses on the determination of emerging pollutants and fingerprint analysis, which uses modern analytical techniques like chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect and quantify pollutants.
iii.3rd Project: A selected stretch of the Varuna River will showcase interventions based on a comprehensive plan and river manual implementing SLCR’s goal of worldwide sustainable solutions.
iv.4th Project: The final project is developing a hydrogeological model of the Varuna Basin for Managed Aquifer Recharge, aimed to enhance base flow through Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR).
- It will utilise advanced geophysical techniques and mathematical modelling to determine optimal recharge sites and rates.
About Denmark:
Prime Minister (PM) – Mette Frederiksen
Capital – Copenhagen
Currency – Danish krone (DKK)
About the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):
Director-General (DG) – Rajeev Kumar Mital
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Launched – 2014
