IIT Roorkee and NIH Roorkee to organize Roorkee Water Conclave 2020

Roorkee: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and National Institute of Hydrology Roorkee (NIH Roorkee) are jointly organizing Roorkee Water Conclave (RWC) during 26th to 28th February 2020 at IIT Roorkee. RWC-2020 would be the first edition of this bi-annual event. The focus of the first edition of RWC-2020 would be on “Hydrological Aspects of Climate Change”.

Presently, climate change and its impact on water resources is the most critical global environmental challenge. Climate change poses uncertainties to the supply and management of water resources. Impacts of climate change are likely to be felt across the globe but the developing countries are likely to be impacted more severely because their economy is considerably dependent on agriculture, and water sector is already under stress due to rising demands for energy, fresh water, and food.

Shri Upendra Prasad Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Jalshakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, New Delhi has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest of the Inaugural Event of the Conclave. Many dignitaries including the Director-General, NMCG, and Chairman CWC would also grace the Conclave.

International experts from the USA, Canada, Spain, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, UK, Australia, Austria, Italy, and experts from top national institutes such as IISc, IITs, JNU, and ISRO would share their knowledge and experiences during the conclave. Twenty-three foreign experts, eleven experts from India would deliver keynote talks. The deliberations during the 3-day conclave would cover several important topics including hydrologic extremes such as floods & droughts and their management, modeling and assessment of water resources under changing climate, policy framework and climate change adaptation strategies, water-energy-food nexus, river dynamics, etc. The presentations and discussions during the Conclave are expected to yield a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on the water sector, document the current state of science/technology, gaps, and identify opportunities for further research and development.

Roorkee is known for research in the water sector. IITR and NIH plan to use this opportunity to network with groups in India and abroad and work with the central and state governments to help find sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the water and allied sectors.

A special feature of RWC would be an exhibition on the activities of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Namami Gange Program. Shri Rajiv Ranjan, Director General, NMCG, would also be delivering a keynote address on the various activities already undertaken or being taken up under the Namami Gange Program – a flagship program of the Government of India.

At the venue of RWC, NMCG would also organize a mega two-day exhibition for school students immediately after RWC i.e. on 29th Feb and 1st March, 2020. This exhibition for school students would enhance the knowledge and understanding of budding future engineers and managers about the Namami Gange Program of the Government of India.

Talking to the media, Dr Sharad K. Jain, Director, NIH Roorkee, opined, “Globally, climate change is conferred as the most critical challenge as it has an adverse impact on mankind. Today, we are here to talk on the potential impact of climate change on the water sector. It is important to discuss the adaptation strategies while deliberating the key challenges and the risk associated. This event will serve as a platform to endow researchers with rational ideas and facilitate them with advanced methodologies related to water resources planning, design and management.”

Some reputed national and international agencies dealing with hydrological instrumentation would be showcasing their products and services at the conclave.

A large number of academicians and researchers, both from India and abroad, policymakers, field practitioners and NGOs, students, and other stakeholders, will be participating in the conclave.

Briefing the media, Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director IIT Roorkee, said that the Institute is delighted to organize the Roorkee Water Conclave 2020 in partnership with NIH. He further informed that during this 3-day event, some of the key issues being faced by the country and the world at large would be identified and challenges faced by the water sector because of climate change would be debated and addressed. He also mentioned that the outcome of the conclave would hopefully provide useful recommendations and a framework for conducting focused research and collaboration on some of the pressing issues.