22nd March, 2023, New Delhi
On the occasion of World Water Day on, Water Technology Centre, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi organized a brainstorming programme on “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis” in the Chairmanship of Dr. Alok K. Sikka, Country Representative-India of International Water Management Institute today.
The Chief Guest, Professor Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, Government of India highlighted the importance of efficient water conservation and management, to solve the problems particularly, the drying of ponds, wells, and other water bodies. He emphasized that the subsidy/incentives should be provided to efficient utilizers of water and to create awareness among others. Prof. Chand urged to develop the most modern and advanced water management technologies, to solve the daunting problems faced by the agriculture sector. He further stressed on the role of scientific and prudent water management to enhance water productivity and to reduce the carbon footprint and the need to reassess the water resource scenario of our country. He also exhorted to evaluate the groundwater scenarios after the implementation of Atal Bhu-Jal Yojana to have a realistic and scientific assessment of the groundwater resources for their efficient planning.
The Guest of Honour, Shri Franklin L. Khobung, Joint Secretary (NRM/RFS), MoA & FW, Govt. of India emphasized on the importance of Government schemes such as Jal Shakti Abhiyan in water conservation.
Later, a brief interaction on water management issues was held followed by Chairman remarks by Dr. A. K. Sikka. He mentioned that water connects different sectors including agriculture and we need to manage water resources as a whole and highlighted the joint efforts of International Water Management Institute and ICAR in successful management of drought and flood
Earlier, Dr. C. Viswanathan, Jt. Director (Research) ICAR IARI New Delhi, spoke on optimum water use in agriculture by the farming community through modern methods of irrigation such as drip and sprinkler at large scale.
Dr. P.S. Brahmanand, the Project Director, WTC, IARI briefed about the current status of water resources and their utilization in agriculture – key issues. He gave an overview of the water resources scenario of India and highlighted the judicious use of surface and groundwater resources and phase-wise crop diversification keeping low water requirements in mind.
The dignitaries and participants visited “Pusa Amrit Sarovar” at ICAR-IARI.
About 130 participants including Heads of various divisions, Scientists, Professors and students of ICAR-IARI attended this event.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)
