India Water Impact Summit 2020

• 16 Dec 2020

Why in News

Recently, the 5^th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS), organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) has held virtually.

Key Points

• About the Summit:
  
  • India Water Impact 2020 is a five-day long summit, hosting experts and academicians from all over the world to discuss and debate issues related to water conservation, water security and river rejuvenation.
  • Theme: Comprehensive analysis and holistic management of local rivers and water bodies with focus on Arth Ganga - river conservation synchronised development.
  • At the event, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research signed an MoU with cGanga for development of a sludge management framework in India.
• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):
  
  • It is the implementation wing of the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga also known as National Ganga Council (set in 2016; which replaced the NRGBA).
  • NMCG was established in the year 2011 as a registered society.
  • It has a two-tier management structure and comprises the Governing Council and Executive Committee.
  • The aims and objectives of NMCG are:
    
    • To ensure effective control of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensive planning and management.
    • To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.
  • In 2014, ‘Namami Gange Programme’ was launched as an Integrated Conservation Mission, to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
    
    • The program is being implemented by the NMCG, and its state counterpart organization viz., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
    • It has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore. The main pillars of the programme are:
      
      1. Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring,
      2. River-Front Development & River-Surface Cleaning,
      3. Bio-Diversity & Afforestation, and
      4. Public Awareness.
• Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga):
  
  • It was established at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) in 2016.
  • The Centre is a Centre of Excellence for data collection, the creation and dissemination of knowledge and information for the sustainable development of Ganga River Basin.
  • The centre acts in the capacity of a comprehensive think-tank to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), in its stated goals and objectives vis-à-vis the Ganga River Basin.

Source: PIB