Indian National Committee of International Association of Hydrogeoloists (INC – IAH) and Manav Rachna International University had jointly organized a national workshop on “Water Conservation and Pollution” on 19th December 2015 with a focus towards achieving sustainable economic development, food and water security in India as well as in world. We, in India, are fortunate in having generally adequate volume of rainfall over large areas of our country, which is evident from large rivers and rich aquifers in various parts of India. However, we are indiscriminately using this precious natural resource and also recklessly polluting the rivers and other surface water bodies as well as aquifers. We must control the reckless use of water and abet pollution of water sources. The traditions in water conservation and harvesting are rich and glorious in India. Every region of this country had its own engineering system to manage water scarcity and the modern India needs to learn from these traditions and make them a part of our water future.

Ensuring sustainable development of water resources and keeping it free from pollution is the mutual responsibility of all segments of our society. We need greatly expanded research, continuing efforts of experts, managers, policy makers, and most important of all, we need the wholehearted support of all individual citizens in this endeavor. This workshop dealt with the studies related to water pollution and ways for water conservation in all aspects to develop goals and programs that will assure progress in this field.

During the workshop two important documents were released- (1) On Ground water Issues and Challenges of Haryana and (2) Report – A Pre-feasiblity study on Revival of Badkhal Lake at Faridabad.

At the conclusion of the workshop, a road map for Haryana was presented to conserve its water resources with recommendations for efficient utilization of water in cities and towns across Haryana. This model can later on be replicated across the country, as we all know ‘Water is Life’. With this in mind, an initiative was to create and announce ‘Haryana Water Council or Forum’ which will be a state level multi-stakeholder platform, in response to an increasing concern about water issues amongst the communities. The mission of this from would be 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. This is essential to bridge water divides among various sectors and the present and future generations.

The workshop was attended by about several persons including scientists, engineers, academia, representative of RWA, & representatives of all affiliated sectors.