New Delhi, May 31: The Indian government is set to launch a significant initiative called ‘Maha On Water’ aimed at accelerating water research and innovation. This mission, a collaboration between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Research Foundation (ANRF), focuses on advancing cutting-edge research in priority areas such as water resource management, drinking water, climate resilience, and water use efficiency. The announcement was made on Sunday.
An open invitation process for research proposals will be unveiled during the ‘National Workshop on Research and Development in the Water Sector,’ scheduled for Monday in the national capital.
According to a statement from the ministry, key representatives from government, industry, academia, scientific institutions, startups, and technical organizations will participate in the workshop. The goal is to strengthen India’s water research framework and accelerate innovation-based solutions for sustainable water management.
The one-day workshop will be inaugurated by Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, and Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Dr. Narayanan also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti will also initiate an open invitation process under the India-Win portal to promote product and prototype development in the water sector for startups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
During the workshop, a participatory digital platform named ‘Water Conservation Citizen Participation: Catch the Rain’ (JSJB: CTR) will be launched. This platform will assist citizens, institutions, and local bodies in documenting and showcasing initiatives related to water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge, thereby promoting community-level water conservation.
There is also a possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and ISRO. This agreement aims to enhance the use of satellite-based applications and advanced technologies for assessing, monitoring, and managing water resources. A total of 24 priority studies and areas for collaboration have already been identified.
The workshop will feature several technical sessions covering critical topics such as groundwater management, irrigation methods, river morphology, floodplain mapping, climate resilience, ecological assessment, and the safety of dams and hydraulic structures.
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