Shri Nitin Gadkari Addresses the National Water Symposium Organised by Shiv Nadar University

NEW DELHI, August 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Shiv Nadar University (a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and research-focused institution) yesterday hosted a National Water Conference at India International Centre to discuss issues related to the water crisis in India and identify the potential solutions to address the problem. The implementation of a new policy paradigm with regards to the principles, approaches and strategies for managing water in India was one of the key issues discussed at the conference. The event was attended by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Minister for Water Resources, Government of India as the Chief Guest and high-level policy makers, development & water professionals, researchers, academia and private sector representatives. 

Speaking at the conference, Shri Nitin Gadkari said, "The issue of water is the biggest problem in the country. Many states face water stress and are also litigating against each other and as a country we've all been unsuccessful in creating lasting resolutions. It is time that we explore all avenues using technology, to conserve ground water and the government is committed to playing a constructive role in this. We believe that river linking project, could be one of the solutions to the problem that we face. The water storage of rivers also needs to be addressed to reduce flooding and also ensuring that surplus water during monsoons does not get wasted by going into the oceans."

Shri Gadkari ended by stating that we need to manage our surface and ground water in a sustainable manner.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Dr Mihir Shah, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Shiv Nadar University, said, "A holistic and inclusive dialogue has been missing in the context of tackling India's water crisis as we don't have enough people from across sectors talking to each other. Representatives from the government, civil society, academic and most importantly the affected communities need to work together to forge creative solutions through constructive dialogue. This in turn will help create a new policy paradigm - a dedicated programme on participatory and decentralised water management and governance - that is the need of the hour."

Amitabh Kant, CEO Niti Aayog very emphatically stated that communities are the best placed entities to manage water and in his opinion a water management system managed in that manner is the need of the day.

Some of the other speakers at the conference included Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog, GoI; Ms Roshni Nadar, Executive Director and CEO, HCL Corporation & Trustee of Shiv Nadar Foundation; Dr Mihir Shah, former member Planning Commission and Distinguished Visiting Professor, Shiv Nadar University; Shri RS Julaniya, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Dr Isher Ahluwalia, Chairperson ICRIER; Dr Rupamanjari Ghosh, Vice Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University; Dr Tushaar Shah, Senior Fellow, International Water Management Institute; Pramathash Ambastha, CEO, Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation; Dr. Amarjit Singh, Former Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India and Shri K C Naik, Chairman, CGWB.

The conference encouraged discussion around key areas of India's water crisis including: -

• How the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana's vision of proving HarKhetkoPani can be achieved in Indian agriculture.
• Groundwater Management and Challenges of Implementing the Atal Bhujal Yojana; and
• The Implementation of Mihir Shah Committee Report, which demands a robust and shared understanding of the nature and magnitude of the water crisis in India

Notes to the Editor: 

About Shiv Nadar University 

Shiv Nadar University (http://www.snu.edu.in), a Shiv Nadar Foundation initiative, is a multidisciplinary, student-centric, research-focused university offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. Shiv Nadar University's multidisciplinary curriculum provides students a strong foundation in disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, technology and engineering studies, communications and management, while enabling them to gain mastery of a subject of their choosing. Taught by world-class faculty, undergraduate education at the University is designed to develop students with the breadth of vision, knowledge, skills and attitudes required to succeed in the careers of the 21st century. Located on a 286-acre campus in India's National Capital Region, Shiv Nadar University is a private philanthropic institution established in 2011 through an act of the State of Uttar Pradesh. The university was recognized as 'University of the Year', under the category - 'in existence for less than 10 years' at the 3rd FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards.

About Shiv Nadar Foundation  

The Shiv Nadar Foundation (http://www.ShivNadarFoundation.org) has been established by Shiv Nadar, Founder, HCL - a $8.5 billion leading technology and healthcare enterprise. The Foundation's mission is to contribute to the process of national development and social transformation by establishing institutions and undertaking new initiatives in the fields of education and culture. The Foundation is committed to the creation of a more equitable, merit based society by empowering individuals to bridge the socio-economic divide through philanthropy based transformational education.

The Foundation set up the SSN Institutions (http://www.SSN.edu.in) in 1996, comprising the SSN College of Engineering (already a highly ranked private engineering college in India), in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Foundation has also set up VidyaGyan, a residential leadership academy for meritorious rural children, at Bulandshar and Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh. In addition, the Foundation runs the Shiv Nadar University (http://www.snu.edu.in), an international multidisciplinary university with strong research orientation located in Greater Noida in India's National Capital Region and the Shiv Nadar School (http://www.shivnadarschool.edu.in), a network of progressive urban schools across India aimed to provide children with education that creates lifelong learners. The Foundation has also set up the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (http://www.knma.in), India's largest private philanthropic museum in modern and contemporary art with the vision to take art to the common public.

Media Contact:
Sadaf Khan
[email protected]
+91-9620696668
Head Corporate Communications
HCL Enterprise