- Ahmedabad Conference Stresses Collective Action for India’s Water Security
- Bharat Discourses on Water @2047 Puts Water Conservation at Centre Stage
- Water-Secure Bharat Begins with Every Drop Conserved, Experts Say
- Experts Call for Community Participation and Better Water Management at Ahmedabad Meet
- Bilkul Online | Sunday Special
- Ahmedabad
The urgent need for collective action on water conservation took centre stage at ‘Bharat Discourses on Water @2047’, a national conference organised by Udgam Charitable Trust in association with the Center for Water Peace (CWP), Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPMRF) and i-Hub at KCG Auditorium, Ahmedabad.
The conference brought together policymakers, scientists, water experts, industry leaders, grassroots practitioners and young innovators to discuss India’s water challenges and ways to strengthen awareness about conservation, responsible consumption and sustainable water management.
Anil Prakash Joshi emphasised that water must be viewed not merely as a resource but as the foundation of life, ecology and human civilisation. He stressed that the vision should be ‘Water for All’ and said achieving it would require every individual to understand their relationship with nature and take responsibility for conserving every drop.
Joshi said water security cannot be achieved through infrastructure alone and requires a change in mindset, lifestyle and the relationship between people and natural resources. He called for communities, institutions, governments and citizens to work together to ensure water remains available for every life and future generation.
Umashankar Pandey highlighted the critical role of communities and local participation in creating a water-secure future. He said solutions to India’s water challenges must emerge from every village, community and citizen, with people taking ownership of local water resources, protecting traditional systems and working collectively.
Pandey also emphasised the relevance of India’s traditional wisdom in water conservation and called for bringing the collective spirit of respecting and preserving water back into everyday life.
Mayur Joshi, Managing Trustee, Udgam Charitable Trust, said water security cannot be achieved by governments alone and requires awareness, behavioural change and collective action. He said the organisation aims to take the conversation beyond conference halls and into communities, making water conservation a shared responsibility.
The conference also highlighted India’s traditional water wisdom, including johads, baolis, kunds and traditional water-harvesting systems. Discussions covered groundwater conservation, climate resilience, river rejuvenation, urban water security, innovation and water governance.
The conference witnessed the participation of an eminent group of leaders and experts, including Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Former President, ICCR; Binay Kumar Singh, Director, SPMRF; Sathpal Singh; Vivek Kumar, Head, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, IIT Delhi; Ami Upadhyay, Hon. Vice Chancellor, BAOU; Dilip Rana IAS, Commissioner of Higher Technical Education, Government of Gujarat; Umakant Umrao, Senior IAS and Principal Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Mahesh Sharma; Chiranjivi Patel; and Vijay Baghel, popularly known as the ‘Greenman of India’.
The deliberations at the conference are expected to contribute towards a proposed ‘Bharat Water Manifesto 2047’, carrying the larger message that a water-secure Bharat begins with every drop conserved today.