Latest news with #TOIRiverDialogues
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
TOI River Dialogues: Uneven distribution, not shortage of water, is a concern in India, say experts
1 2 Lucknow: Collecting rainwater from where it drops and stopping wastewater from where it is generated should be the mantra for the revival and conservation of rivers. The idea was shared by Prof Vinod Tare from IIT Kanpur at the TOI River Dialogues held on Monday. Deliberating on revitalising rivers during a panel discussion, Tare, founding head of cGanga, Environmental Engineering & Management Programme at IIT Kanpur, said, "There is no shortage of water in our country. The concern is its uneven distribution. For 30 days, we have water, and for 330 days, we have sewage and wastewater around us. We need to convert this into business so that our rivers keep flowing." Speaking on the theme, 'Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships for Clean Rivers Innovation, Investment, and Sustainable Impact,' Head of Business Development and MA, Adani Group, Kundan Kishore said, "PPP is just an extension of public funding. Currently, the govt spends entirely on funds and developing infrastructural projects. Fortunately, in India, PPP has reached quite a mature state, and that has been validated by the interest of domestic investors and foreign investors in India." Seeking proper structuring of the PPP document, Kishore added, "For a successful PPP, we need the right project implementation framework and the correct conceptualisation, keeping in mind the kind of leverage the govt is trying to build in through an association with a private partner or investor." He added, "What we need is a sizable investment chunk and a longer period to give returns. A project of Rs 500 crore or Rs 1000 crore will help a private investor leverage its efficiency in a better way." Underscoring the importance of water management programmes, particularly water literacy, Prof Pritam Ranjan from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, said, "It's time that educational institutes bring in water management programmes in their curriculum. At IIM Indore, we have a unique rural immersion programme where students visit villages across India to help villagers live a better life. Such programmes help in creating awareness of the usage and reusage of water. Public participation is the key to conserving water." Drawing attention to the growing farmer suicides in Maharashtra, CEO of Naam Foundation, Ganesh Thorat, said, "This is the biggest crisis and disaster when it comes to water. For over a decade, we focused on water conservation and rural development in Maharashtra, and we realised that people connect stronger at places where there are issues related to water. We need to spread awareness on the rejuvenation of rivers through desilting and excavation to enhance storage capacity and recharge groundwater tables." Tare said, "Decentralising sewage treatment will aid in water conservation. Every city that sees rainfall should have 100-200 STPs. Public and private players both need to value water to transform rivers. Valuation doesn't refer to pricing, but there is no harm in bringing it into account books."
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Rivers are foundation of prosperity: Minister Swatantra Dev Singh
1 2 Lucknow: Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh on Monday said rivers are the foundation of prosperity and several projects are being implemented to check pollution and improve their flow. He said out of the 1 lakh km of rivers in the country 21,000 km are in Uttar Pradesh alone and the govt was committed to safeguard all. In his special address at the TOI River Dialogues, Singh said: "Rivers belong to everyone. They carry values and are the foundation of prosperity. It's an irony that rivers are in crisis today. They are polluted and are affected by climate change. Govt is making a comprehensive plan to conserve rivers." He added that "Rivers are regarded as mothers, and they determine the direction of culture, civilisation, and spirituality." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Singh went on to say that rivers are being revived by treating wastewater at sewage treatment plants. "Organic farming is being done on the banks of rivers. Flood management is being done. Ganga and Yamuna were made pollution-free in Prayagraj. Purity of water was ensured at Maha Kumbh," he said. Singh mentioned that several projects are being implemented to control the uninterrupted flow of rivers. "Through the Ken Betwa River Link project, there is prosperity in Bundelkhand now. Though the third world war will be for water, but with PM Modi and CM Yogi at the helm of affairs, India and UP will remain unaffected," Singh said.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
‘UP treating 4,800 MLD sewage discharge daily to keep rivers clean'
1 2 Lucknow: Additional chief secretary, department of Namami Gange & Rural Water Supply, GoUP, Anurag Srivastava, on Monday said UP was treating 4,800 MLD of the total of 5,500 MLD sewage discharge daily to check river pollution. "Efforts are on to treat the remaining sewage discharge. This way we have been able to tackle the quality of water in our rivers," Srivastava said at the TOI River Dialogues. In a fireside chat on 'Revitalising Rivers: A Collective Responsibility', Srivastava said: "For quality water, we are tapping on all sewers. We are also using drone technology to identify such drains that tend to overflow in certain seasons so that we can check the issue." Calling rivers a moving asset, Srivastava said, "Since rivers are dynamic, they must be managed from a different perspective. It needs independent planning and a different way of implementation. We have come up with a comprehensive policy, but a lot more needs to be done." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo Shedding light on Ganga, its tributaries, and other smaller streams, Srivastava said, "Groundwater is naturally part of the river and its tributaries. One season, the groundwater gets charged from river, and the other season, the river gets charged from groundwater." Regarding the quantity of river water, Srivastava said in the basin area where there is proper afforestation, some water enters the ground while some may flow across the surface. "However, if a bed has improper utilisation and has a steep flow of water, the quantity of water will be affected. A plan is made, but we will have to prepare proper SOPs as a guiding force and not a regulatory force. We are trying to involve major stakeholders for maximum benefit," Srivastava said. Applauding the role of non-profits in the rejuvenation of dying rivers, Srivastava said, "A lot still needs to be done. In UP, there are different zones. For instance, the groundwater is in abundance in the Terai region. Even in the Ganga-Yamuna central area, groundwater is there. But the south of Yamuna faces a severe water crisis. Water depletion issues come from this area and managing this is an uphill task." For this, Srivastava said efforts for a decentralised system are being worked upon, which will be very beneficial. "We are planning for a continuous flow of water that was somehow lost due to urbanisation. We also need to engage the community," he said. Throwing light on the restoration of ponds, Srivastava said, "Water bodies are being tagged. We identify ponds, free them from encroachment, and then restore them. Good work has been done under the Amrit Sarovar scheme in UP. It will take some time but will have a long-lasting effect," he said. During the event, he apprised the audience of the most recent award the department received: the Prime Minister Award for Excellence in Public Administration in the 'Innovation – State Category' for his leadership in integrating solar energy into water supply schemes. Under this, 80% of the state's 41,539 Jal Jeevan Mission projects are now solar-powered, collectively generating 900 MW of electricity daily. This shift has led to more than 50% cost savings in rural water supply and is projected to save the state nearly ₹1 lakh crore over 30 years, while also cutting carbon emissions by 13 lakh metric tonnes annually.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
TOI River Dialogues 2025: ‘Involving the younger generation is essential', says IAS Anurag Srivastava on river rejuvenation
Anurag Srivastava, IAS, additional chief secretary, department of Namami Gange and rural water supply, government of Uttar Pradesh NEW DELHI: The TOI River Dialogues 2025 , held on April 28 in Lucknow, brought together policymakers, innovators, and community leaders to discuss the future of rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Gomti, which have shaped the region's history, culture, and economy for centuries. Speaking at the event, Anurag Srivastava , IAS, additional chief secretary, department of Namami Gange and rural water supply, government of Uttar Pradesh, outlined key strategies for ensuring river health and resilience. Srivastava stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive and dynamic policy framework to meet the evolving challenges in river rejuvenation . "The increasing dynamism in environmental and urban pressures demands a flexible but firm response," he said, adding that microanalysis and technological innovations are critical. "We are using drones and focusing on total sewerage tapping to cut pollution at the source," he pointed out. TOI River Dialogues LIVE | Restoring the Lifelines of Uttar Pradesh Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo He emphasised that groundwater and river water systems must be treated as complementary, especially in light of emerging challenges like groundwater depletion in the west and south Yamuna regions. Srivastava highlighted the importance of bringing major stakeholders, including NGOs, local communities, and businesses, into the conservation effort. He advocated for decentralised systems supported by communities, calling them "vital for lasting impact." In a move to build public ownership, he mentioned the success of River Literacy Program that educates and involve the youth. "Involving the younger generation is essential because they are the future custodians of our rivers," he remarked. Touching on broader social impacts, he pointed to initiatives like 'Har Ghar Nal', which have improved access to drinking water, thereby enhancing quality of life and supporting female education across rural Uttar Pradesh. Srivastava also discussed the ongoing efforts in pond rejuvenation, including the Amrit Sarovar Yojana . He acknowledged that while progress would take time, these initiatives would create long-lasting ecological and social benefits, even though a comprehensive database of restored water bodies is still under development. On the economic dimension of river rejuvenation, he said, "We must at least begin by recognising it as a pressing need of the hour and align planning accordingly." He also addressed the use of chemical-based cleaning technologies, cautioning that "solutions are not binary," and stressed that policy must balance society's needs with available technologies. Srivastava also underlined the critical role of individual responsibility in river conservation, calling it "absolutely essential" for ensuring meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How to mitigate a water crisis? IIM professor explains at TOI River Dialogues
Dr Pritam Ranjan TOI River Dialogues 2025 began in Lucknow on Monday, bringing together policymakers, innovators, corporate leaders, and communities. Impactful discussions were held on initiatives such as Namami Gange, as well as advanced technologies, and community-driven conservation. Speaking at TOI River Dialogues, Dr Pritam Ranjan of IIM Indore suggested that a water management programme could help mitigate an impending water crisis. Ranjan said, "IIM Indore is one of the institutes, which has something called rural engagement programme. What we do is, we go to different villages around India, particularly Madhya year, more than 500 of our students go to these villages. They give them (villagers) training in terms of their livelihood, small businesses and so on." Also Read | TOI River Dialogues 2025: 'For Bharat, Ganga is not just water — she is our soul,' say experts by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Underground Oddities: Weird Characters Spotted in the Subway Subway Quirks and Curiosities Undo He added, "Coming to River Dialogues, may be we should think about some water management programme that will be very helpful to the ground level on how we can revive our waters. Yes, we are focusing on the Ganga and other rivers. But we also have to think about the day-to-day needs for water, and how we can do better management of water so that rivers and water can have a sync." However, he admitted that private funding would be needed for such programmes. Ranjan further stated, "We have to reach out to industries and private players to make sure that rivers are not that dirty these days." The IIM Indore professor was a member of Panel 2 at TOI River Dialogues. He was joined by Kundan Kishore (Head-Business Development and M&A, Adani Group), Ganesh Thorat (CEO, Naam Foundation) and Vinod Tare ( Founding Head, cGanga, Environmental Engineering & Management Programme, IIT Kanpur). The agenda of discussion for Panel 2 was "Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships For Clean Rivers : Innovation, Investment, and Sustainable Impact." Their session was moderated by Richa Jain Kallra. TOI River Dialogues River Dialogues is pivotal event dedicated to river rejuvenation and sustainable water management in Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on Maha Kumbh 2025. In Uttar Pradesh, where rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, and many others have nurtured life, spirituality and culture for centuries, there is a growing need to restore and protect their vitality. Times of India's TOI River Dialogues is a thought-provoking series for meaningful conversations and action around river revival and conservation.
