Manav Rachna International University, Faridabad, in association with Indian National Committee of   International Association of Hydrogeologists (INC of IAH) and Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) organised a National Workshop on the ‘Role of Groundwater in Smart Cities & Villages’ at the campus here today. The Workshop held to mark   the Golden Jubilee year of the formation of Haryana State analyzed ways for achieving sustainable economic development, food and water security in urban India as well as the world. The august occasion was graced by His Excellency Prof.  Kaptan Singh Solanki, Honourable Governor of Haryana, as the Chief Guest; Mr K.B. Biswas, Chairman, Central Ground Water Board and Dr Sanjay Bajpai, Advisor DST, New Delhi; were the Guests of Honour.

The objective at the National Workshop was to create a platform for interactions amongst different stake holders like Government organizations, Research Institutes, Industries, NGOs, Voluntary Organizations and Individuals to express their views and expectations from Smart Cities and on the role of Ground water in Smart Cities and Villages. Three awards (namely the Smt Savitri Chadha Memorial INC-IAH Awards) in which two awards for outstanding works in Indian Hydrogeology and one for Young scientists working in Indian Hydrogeology were awarded during the workshop. While Prof. Saumitra Mukherjee, JNU, New Delhi won the award for Excellence in Groundwater Science; Professor Shakeel Ahmed, NGRI, Hyderabad won the award in Groundwater Investigation and Management. Dr Sudharshan Sahu, CGWB, Bhubaneshwar, won the Young Scientist Award in Groundwater Studies.

At the conclusion of the Workshop, a road map for Haryana to conserve its water resources with recommendations for efficient utilization of water in Smart cities and villages across Haryana was presented.  This model can later on be replicated across the country.  With this in mind, Centre for Advanced Water Technology & Management at MRIU has committed itself to promote awareness, build commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on earth.

Also present on the occasion were senior dignitaries such as Ms Sonal Goel, Commissioner MCF; Prof. C. Mahapatra, Pro VC (and officiating VC), Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr. S.P.S. Bakshi, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Engineering Projects (India) Ltd (EPI); along with Scientists, Engineers, Professors, Research Scholars, Students representatives of RWAs and  representatives of all affiliated sectors.