Inauguration of HYDRO-2020 International Conference on “Hydraulics, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering” at NIT Rourkela
New Delhi: The three days program of the 25th International Conference on “Hydraulics, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering” was inaugurated at the Bhubaneswar Behera Auditorium of the NIT Rourkela on 26th March, 2021. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Prof Chitaranjan Ray, Director, Nebraska water Centre, University of Nebraska, USA emphasized the need of integration of engineering with socio-economic condition of the people in the changing scenario of India visa-a-vis the increasing water requirement. The collective and individual problems need to be solved amicably at the local, regional as well as national levels as it is deemed fit.
The guest of honour Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of India Meteorological Department spoke about the time and space variation of rainfall across India and stressed on storage of water by constructing dams and barrages so that monsoon water can be used during the non-monsoon periods. He also explained how the scientist from IMD, the Central Water Commission, the costal engineering specialist and the Indian Society of Hydraulics can collaborate and work in tandem to for the betterment of the society.
Welcoming the speakers, the organising secretary Prof K.K. Khatua spoke on highlights of the international conference. The chairman of the conference Prof Kanhu Charan Patra expressed happiness over the unprecedented response of the researchers from India and abroad in submitting more than 500 papers and abstracts to be presented in this conference. Prof Saroj Patel (Dean Academic) presided over the inaugural programme and the register Prof P. K Das the patron of the conference highlighted on the themes. Prof Mahavir Panda spoke about the achievements of the civil engineering department.
Some of the highlight of this conference includes 10 invited speakers from top universities of USA and other countries abroad, 24 key note speakers, mostly drawn from IISs, Bangalore, IITs and NITs, 24 session chairs, 7 parallel sessions and about 300 participants to present their research papers.