The 8th edition of India Water Week (IWW 2024), organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), was conducted from 17th to 20th September 2024 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The event was inaugurated by Droupadi Murmu, President of India, along with Union Minister C. R. Paatil, MoJS and Minister of State(MoS), Raj Bhushan Choudhary, MoJS.
Note: The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organizing the IWW biannually since 2012.
Theme and Focus:
i.The theme for IWW 2024 was “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management”.
ii.The theme highlights the importance of cross-sectoral and international collaboration to address the 21st-century’s growing water challenges and the need for integrated efforts in water conservation, management, and equitable access to water resources.
Sub Theme:
- Collaboration and Cooperation for Water Security
- Integrated Water Resources and Development Management
- Challenges in Water Sector Infrastructure
- Risk and New Approaches to Climate Resilience
- Ground Water Sustainability and Management
- Water Governance and Financing
- Water Related Disaster and its Management
Highlights:
i.Woman Water Warriors – Ujiaro Bai from Madhya Pradesh and Lakemen Nongkhlaw from Meghalaya were honoured for their grassroots efforts in water conservation in the event.
ii.The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), The World Bank, the India Water Foundation (IWF), the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) joined as knowledge partners for the IWW 2024.
iii. The event included over 40 sessions (offline and online), 143 offline paper presentations, 43 online paper presentations, and 5-panel discussions, exploring a wide range of topics such as water quality, greywater management, community engagement, Information, Education, and Behaviour Change Communication (IEC/BCC) initiatives, and climate change adaptation.
iii.The event witnessed the global participation of around 5000 delegates.
iv.The exhibition showcased state-of-the-art technologies from countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the UK, the USA, and several African nations in an area of around 4800 square meters.
International WASH Conference 2024 concludes at IWW 2024
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), MoJS, organised the International WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Conference on the sidelines of the IWW 2024 held between 17th to 19th September 2024, in New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Points:
i.This 3-day event was focused on the theme ‘Sustaining Rural Water Supply’.
ii.The main objective was to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing innovations, and sharing best practices to deal with global WASH challenges, with a special focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).
Highlights:
i.The National Safe Water Dialogue highlighted the effects of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) along with discussions on executing water disinfection technologies at scale, community engagement and impact assessment of JJM.
ii.Different aspects of water management, such as digital innovations, IoT (Internet of Things), and their role in enhancing water management systems were also discussed in the event.
iii. Challenges and opportunities in rural water management, importance of cooperation between rural and urban water governance, role of community participation for long-term operations of water supply systems were some of the main topics of discussion.
Union Minister C.R. Patil presides over the Valedictory Session of the IWW 2024
The Valedictory Session of the IWW 2024 was organised in New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Union Minister C.R. Patil.
Highlights:
During the valedictory session, Exhibitor’s awards were presented to exhibitors across four categories:
- Best Central Ministry/Organization: Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune
- Best State Government: Kerala
- Best Industry: Ion-exchange India Ltd.
- Best Startup: Blueverse India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai
ii.The Bhu-neer portal of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for groundwater regulation was launched electronically during the IWW 2024.
iii.Several important publications such as National register of Major and Medium irrigation projects in India, Assessment of water resources in India, Compendium of sedimentation of reservoirs in India by CWC and Coffee Table book of Heliborne survey conducted by CGWB were also released during the event.
iv.A comprehensive discussion paper titled ‘Climate Resilience in Water Resource Management in India: A Conceptual Framework for Action’ was officially released during IWW 2024.
- The discussion paper was authored by Ms Neha Lakhwan, Dr Girija Bharat, and Dr SK Sarkar and was released during the thematic session on ‘Demand Management and Water Use Efficiency’.
- The session was chaired by Dr SK Sarkar, Distinguished Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and focused on the need for efficient water resource management to meet the increasing demand and unpredictable availability of water due to climate change.
Key Points
i.The discussion paper focuses on the increasing unpredictability of water resources due to climate change, with India facing extreme weather events such as erratic monsoons, droughts, and rising sea levels.
ii.It shows the importance of adopting integrated water resources management (IWRM), the use of advanced technologies, and the strengthening of institutional frameworks to enhance water security and resilience.
iPUMPNET Unveiled by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti & Company Wins ET Infra Focus Award 2024 for Best Brand in Water Technology
Union Minister C. R. Patil, introduced iPUMPNET, a revolutionary solution created in-house by Pump Academy Private Limited, at the IWW 2024.
- This initiative uses artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the efficiency of water pumping stations and encourage a smarter and sustainable approach to water management.
Benefits of iPUMPNET
i.It is useful in critical water asset management by increasing efficiency in water distribution, wastewater management, and irrigation.
ii.The technology increases productivity by up to 35%, reduces energy consumption by up to 25%, reduces water loss, lowers carbon emissions, and increases equipment lifespan by up to 50%, leadi8ng to decreased cost savings and increased sustainability.
Key Points
Pump Academy Private Limited was awarded with the Economic Times Infra Focus Award 2024, making it the Best Brand in Water Technology for its innovative solution, iPUMPNET for its unique approach to water management and water infrastructure.
India and EU Fortify Partnership with New Initiatives in Sustainable Water Management
India and the European Union (EU) partnered for sustainable water management at the 6th EU-India Water Forum held along with the IWW 2024.
- The India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP)was established in 2016 to enhance technological, scientific, and policy frameworks in water management.
- It is presently in Phase III, to create creative and sustainable solutions in key areas such as river basin management, climate resilience, urban flooding, and water governance.
About IEWP
i.Under IEWP, the EU and India are working on river management on Tapi and Ramganga River Basins. Under Phase III, the partnership will extend its efforts to other key basins like the Brahmaputra.
ii.Both regions have co-jointly funded 7 research and innovation water projects with €37.4 million (EU €23.4 M + India €14 M), integrating 743 participants from the EU and India.
iii.These projects focus on drinking water purification, wastewater treatment, and real-time monitoring and control systems and creating innovative water technologies in India.
BlueVerse India Showcases Revolutionary Water-Efficient Vehicle Washing Solutions at India Water Week 2024
BlueVerse India introduced its automated and eco-friendly vehicle washing solutions for 4-wheelers, 2-wheelers, and commercial vehicles with its focus on water conservation and sustainability.
- The 2-wheeler automated washing machine uses only 4 liters of water per bike wash, while recycling and reusing 98% of the water.
- This technology will help in reducing water consumption and costs, while managing the hazardous waste from vehicle washing and preventing groundwater contamination and is an industry-first eco-friendly solution for the automotive sector.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj participate as a partner Ministry in the IWW 2024
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj(MoPR) has participated as a Partner Ministry in IWW 2024. MoPR is committed to advance sustainable water practices in rural India for which it is promoting Water-sufficient Villages as part of its focus to achieve on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals through targeted Panchayat Development Plans by way of convergence of resources.
- The MoPR’s Exhibition Stall displayed the best practices in water management from Gram Panchayats across the country including water conservation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, water distribution, rationing in water distribution etc.
- The Water Sufficient Panchayat Theme is one of the nine Themes of the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) that aligns with the goals of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying participates as a partner department in the IWW 2024
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) participated in the IWW 2024 exhibition.
- The DAHD exhibition mainly focused upon the “Water Footprint in the Livestock Sector” and its impact in the production of livestock and poultry in the Indian Scenario.
- The flagship schemes and programs implementing by the department and its achievements were also displayed in the DAHD stall.
Note
The DAHD’s exhibition aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
About Ministry of Jal Shakthi(MoSJ):
Union Minister– C R Paatil (Constituency- Navsari, Gujarat)
Minister of State– Raj Bhushan Choudhary (Constituency- Muzaffarpur, Bihar); V. Somanna (Constituency- Tumkur, Karnataka)
