New Delhi, June 1: Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Patil, will inaugurate a national workshop focused on research and development (R&D) in the water sector on Monday. The workshop aims to accelerate the next wave of water innovation in the country by providing a collaborative platform for government, industry, and academia, as stated in an official announcement.
The one-day workshop will be jointly inaugurated by Patil and the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh.
Several technical sessions will be held during the workshop, covering key topics such as groundwater management, irrigation methods, river infrastructure, flood mapping, climate adaptation, ecological assessment, dam and water structure safety, urban water storage mapping, and the application of remote sensing and advanced technologies in water administration.
According to the statement, this convergence of government, industry, and academia is a significant step towards strengthening India’s water research ecosystem and promoting innovation-based solutions for sustainable water management.
The initiative is also expected to enhance strong coordination among scientific institutions, policymakers, academics, startups, technology organizations, and community stakeholders.
A major highlight of the program will be the launch of the MAHA (Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas for Water), a joint initiative by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and ANRF. This initiative aims to promote cutting-edge research in priority areas such as water resource management, drinking water, climate change resilience, and water use efficiency.
An open call for research proposals will also be announced under this initiative.
The ministry will issue an open invitation for startups and MSMEs to support product and prototype development in the water sector through the India-WIN portal.
Additionally, the workshop will see the launch of “Catch the Rain” (JSJB: CTR), a participatory digital platform designed to empower citizens, institutions, and local bodies to document and showcase water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge initiatives, thereby strengthening community-based water conservation efforts.
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