AMBASSADORS’ MEET - 2019 Dialogue with Government of , New Delhi

Organized By

Government of India

NMCG cGanga National Mission for Clean Ganga Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies Ministry of Jal Shakti, © cGanga and NMCG, 2019 Contents Preface 03

Speech Highlights 06

shri Minister, Jal Shakti 07

Ambassadors’ Reflections from Diplomats 14

n Ambassador of Argentina n Ambassador of South Korea Meet 2019 n Australian High Commissioner n Ambassador of Spain Dialogue with Ministry of Jal Shakti n Ambassador of Brazil n Canadian High Commission Government of India, New Delhi n High Commissioner of The Gambia n German Deputy Ambassador n Ambassador of Israel n EU Delegation to India August 22, 2019, New Delhi, INDIA n Representatives of USA Embassy n Representatives of n Ambassador of Slovenia Norway Embassy

Additional Remarks Mr Sanmit Ahuja, Expert Member, cGanga 40 Concluding Remarks Shri U P Singh, SECRETARY-WR, RD&GR, JAL SHAKTI 42

Shri Parameswaran Iyer, SECRETARY-DWS, JAL SHAKTI 46 SHRI RAJIV RANJAN MISHRA, DG, NMCG, Jal Shakti 50

Organized By Group photograph 54

NMCG cGanga National Mission for Clean Ganga Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India © cGanga and NMCG, 2019 Ambassadors’ Meet 2019

Venue : Friendship Lounge, 3rd Floor, The Ashok Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi Date : Thursday, August 22, 2019

Attendees: S No. Name Designation Country Vinod Tare Rajiv Ranjan Mishra 1 Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Minister, Jal Shakti India Professor and Founding Head, cGanga Director General, NMCG 2 U P Singh Secretary-WR, RG&GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti India 3 Parameswaran Iyer Secretary-DWS, Ministry of Jal Shakti India 4 Rajiv Ranjan Mishra DG, NMCG, Ministry of Jal Shakti India The Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) was established at IIT Kanpur in March 5 Vinod Tare Head, cGanga India 2016 to act as a knowledge provider to the government and other agencies for critical issues related to efficient management of India’s water assets as well as for continual scientific support in the implementation 6 Sanmit Ahuja Expert Member, cGanga India and dynamic evolution of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan. In pursuance of its responsibilities, 7 Daniel Chuburu Ambassador, Embassy of Argentina, New Delhi Argentina cGanga along with NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) jointly organized the Water Impact Initiative and Ambassadors’ Dialogue with the Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of India, along with other experts and 8 Harinder Kaur Sidhu HC, High Commission of Australia, New Delhi Australia officials on 22nd of August 2019 in New Delhi. The program was focused on water security in India and the 9 Amanda Strohan High Commission of Canada (Acting), New Delhi Canada need for international cooperation for transformation in the water sector through collaboration, particularly 10 Andre Aranha Correa do Lago Ambassador, Embassy of Brazil, New Delhi Brazil in the area of accelerating technology transfer and knowledge sharing. This report is a record of the candid and exuberant exchange of ideas and discussions between the Minister of Jal Shakti and the Ambassadors of 11 Jainaba Jagne Ambassador, Embassy of Gambia, New Delhi Gambia many countries as well as the experts and officials of cGanga and NMCG. 12 Ron Malka Ambassador, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi Israel Two complementary aspects of this event need to be mentioned. On the one hand, dedicated members of NMCG 13 Jozef Drofenik Ambassador, Embassy of Slovenia, New Delhi Slovenia and cGanga spared no effort to seek out and enthuse the Minister and Ambassadors about the Dialogue. On 14 Shin Bongkil Ambassador, Embassy of South Korea, New Delhi South Korea the other hand, the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and the many Ambassadors themselves took keen interest 15 José Ramón Barañano Ambassador, Embassy of Spain, New Delhi Spain in sparing their time and sharing their views, thereby ensuring a very fruitful, multi-pronged dialogue. We are thankful to all of them for making the program a resounding success. 16 Alain Baetens First Secretary, Embassy of Belgium, New Delhi Belgium 17 Raimund Magis Deputy Head, EU Delegation to India, New Delhi EU 18 Arto Haapea Minister Counselor, Embassy of Finland, New Delhi Finland 19 Jasper Weick Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy, New Delhi Germany 20 Daljeet Kaur Climate and Environment Adviser | DFID India, British High UK Commission, New Delhi 21 Robert Garverick Minister Counselor, Embassy of the USA, New Delhi USA Vinod TarE Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, IAS Professor and Founding Head Director General 22 Françoise Moreau Lalanne Counselor – Agriculture, Embassy of France, New Delhi France Centre for Ganga River Basin Management & Studies (cGanga), National Mission for Clean Ganga [NMCG] Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Ministry of Jal Shakti 23 Italy Government of India, New Delhi 24 Maya Acharya Senior Advisor Trade, Embassy of the Netherlands, New Delhi Netherlands 25 Sweden 26 Lorenz Brunner Austria 27 Olivia Benton-Guy Policy Advisor, New Zealand High Commission, New Delhi New Zealand

28 Kamilla Kristensen Rai Counselor – Urban Development, Embassy of Denmark, New Delhi Denmark 29 Kaia Bilton Deputy Head of Mission, Norwegian Embassy, New Delhi Norway

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 5 ]

MEETING BRIEF

experiences of how their countries n T he second category of projects are strove to achieve water security and related to ancillary areas and provision India highlighted the current engagements of of eco-system services. These include announces their respective countries in India. They resource recovery, zero waste, zero were quite appreciative of the recent plastics, sustainable agriculture and the Jal Jeevan initiatives of the Indian Government sustainable hydropower. and expressed their commitments for Mission which taking forward the engagements of their n Significant emphasis shall be given is to bring countries to a new level. on developing and implementing innovative financial instruments such drinking India’s Call to various nations to partner as Water/Ganga bonds, Guarantees with it in water security and credit enhancement instruments, water to every n India announces the Jal Jeevan water trading and marketplaces and household by Mission which is to bring drinking water impact funds. water to every household by 2024 with 2024 with an The Centre for Ganga River Basin In addition to the Hon’ble Minister, both an investment commitment of INR 3.5 n T he international cooperation investment Focused on water Management and Studies (cGanga) and the Secretaries of the Ministry, Shri lakh crores (USD 5bn). between India and other nations security in India the National Mission for Clean Ganga Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Drinking must be streamlined. Efforts of all commitment and the need (NMCG) organised a Dialogue of various Water and Sanitation and Shri U P Singh, n A number of impact projects have been nations, that are currently partnered of INR 3.5 lakh for international Ambassadors and the Hon’ble Minister Secretary, Water Resources, River launched. The first category of impact with India, must be catalogued and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry Development and Ganga Rejuvenation projects is to deal with major urban working groups established to improve cooperation for of Jal Shakti. also participated in the dialogue. The drains that are carriers of sewage coordination. crores transformation in discussions were steered by Shri Rajiv and dirty water. These will be restored (USD 5bn) water sector through The program, organised on 22nd Ranjan Mishra, Director General, NMCG, and conserved so that they become n India also aims to share its knowledge collaboration, Aug 2019 in New Delhi, focused on and Dr Vinod Tare, Head, cGanga. They providers of clean water to the city. with other countries particularly particularly in the water security in India and the need were supported by Shri Sanmit Ahuja, In the first phase, 5 such drains have those in Africa, South and South East area of accelerating for international cooperation for Expert Member, cGanga who moderated been selected. These are: Asia by establishing dedicated Water transformation in water sector through the addresses by the Ambassadors. partnership forum. It has already technology transfer collaboration, particularly in the area of Najafgarh (Delhi), Assi river (Varanasi), initiated such a process with African and knowledge accelerating technology transfer and Ambassadors and diplomats, who Sisamau drain (Kanpur), Jojri river nations by establishing the India Africa sharing knowledge sharing. attended in large numbers, shared their () and Kahn river (Indore) Water Forum.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 7 ]

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 9 ]

a discussion on water, then nobody else ancestors, we used to go to water for our has an authority to speak. needs but now water is coming to our homes, and as it comes to our home it has It is an irony that 3 In the Independence Day speech, our lost its value. in this modern age, PM Hon’ble Shri ji, made when almost all references to an old scholar who had 5 India has decided to do something predicted that water will be sold in stores. about the looming dangers of water human beings have His prediction has already come true, and scarcity, and we would like each of the access to mobile now it is increasing water poverty as well nations represented here to be a part of phones, people don’t as contributing to the plastics menace. It this movement. Because this movement is an irony that in this modern age, when is not only for India or the country you have access to clean Speech by Hon’ble Minister almost all human beings have access to represent, but about this planet we call water, which is a mobile phones, people don’t have access our home. basic necessity of life. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to clean water, which is a basic necessity of life. And this is a picture around the 6 With the same vision in mind, the And this is a picture Jal Shakti globe. Government of India has launched the Jal around the globe Jeevan mission. Our Honourable Prime 4 In Indian culture, a river is not just Minister has launched this mission from Excellencies, Secretary Iyer, Secretary future generations in such a way that they a source of water; it is our mother. I do Red Fort with the vision of access to piped Singh, DG NMCG Mr Mishra, Dr Tare, can see a better and greener picture in it. remember that, when I was young and water to each and every household of the distinguished guests from various I used to study in college, I asked my country. It’s a big mission because as on Embassies, Colleagues, Ladies and 2 With deepening climate crises the grandmother that in our culture we use date 18% of our rural households are not Gentlemen world needs change agents to preserve to pray to rivers as goddesses and to having access to piped water. Though the precious resource that gives life. water as a god. We start all our prayers 89% of the population have access It is my pleasure to welcome you all today In particular we require a renewed and pooja by spraying the water of the through stand posts or hand pumps or and have a constructive dialogue on thinking and changes in our attitude holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, any other source available, they are in the issues pertaining to water. towards water. Myself and my friend, Narmada, and Kaveri and reciting many village but not in their homes. Therefore His Excellency from Israel, were sitting mantras. There are so many mantras and our PM has taken a call to provide 1 Water scarcity is actually the together right before this conference, and hymns on water in Rig-Veda and our other drinking water to every house which reflection of our actions taken over the when we began the discussion I started scriptures and documents! Then why aims to invest nearly USD 5billion (or Rs. years in today’s mirror. It is our collective my remarks with the words that, if a has water become so insignificant now. 3.5 lakh crore) over the next five years. responsibility to pass on this mirror to our gentlemen from Israel is there and having She said that earlier, from the ages of our Though the date set by the UN under

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 11 ]

SDGs for piped water or safe drinking dependability for water requirements in critical blocks are lying. And institutions water to each and every house is 2030, all fields is almost 65% on ground water like cGanga are also providing us data but we have taken a commitment for our alone, and India is the country that is on water resources. We have been and are working nation to get it done before 2024. depending the most on underground water sources. Our underground water Our river rejuvenation and conservation strategically with a number of The PM has said that whatever efforts resources are depleting so rapidly require implementation strategies that have been done in the last 70 years are that, among 6800 plus blocks where we achieve the right balance for both Clean countries: not enough, we need to quadruple them measure groundwater, almost 20% are Water and Continuous flow in water in all forms, because the problems have either over exploited or are critically bodies. We are concentrating on River compounded to large proportions over exploited; so we have to take care Cleaning, Restoration, Conservation, the years. To solve the water challenges of them. Our government, under the Resource Recovery, Zero Plastic and staring in our faces right now, a long leadership of our PM, have taken up Zero Waste, Sustainable Agriculture, Israel Canada journey has to be made; but we are not a mission i.e. Jal Shakti Abhiyan – the and Run-of-the-River Hydropower. has been at the has instituted a afraid of that and have started to move Water Power Mission. We have identified All these aspects are necessary forefront of sharing research and scientific with rapid pace towards the goal of the blocks which I have mentioned – 1500 and important for the rejuvenation with us knowhow collaboration with providing water to all. But we must not blocks in 256 districts. We have made programme. We invite all our partner on water resource India around the water make the same mistakes of the past,and teams of very senior officials working nations to participate in these projects management and sector. We will have to also learn from our friends from around in the government, hydrologists and through technical and knowledge innovation. the world. Or we can take inspiration from geologists working in the government collaborations. The projects will aim ensure industrial success stories around the world and also and engineers working here in the to be delivered in a PPP format so alliance and from people sitting here as I mentioned. government, and sent those teams with that the capital investment comes in Japan Germany technological alliance the responsibility of water conservation, from the private sector or the project has been a partner in has supported water With increase in water supply to water reuse, and rejuvenation of is self-funding. So we request all because until and funding the Yamuna supply in households, the amount of wastewater traditional water bodies – identifying them partner countries to come along with and Ganga clean-up. Uttarakhand. unless technology coming out from the households will and then rejuvenating them. It’s like a the technology as well as the funding. is being connected also increase. So we will have to take a mission and creating awareness among I have already talked about industry holistic view in the Jal Jeevan Mission the people is essential because we can’t alliance. The investments shall deliver with water, we can’t in which I have mentioned that our PM make our country water secure unless high impact and sufficient returns to make ourselves water has taken a threefold approach. The first and until it becomes a people’s movement. investors. Our teams are working on US secure. And we need step is the sustainability of source, the Once it becomes a people’s movement developing some innovative financial is supporting the Amrut mission that to start to invest second is the supply of water, and the and everybody is aware, then only we can instruments and structures such as: third is the treatment of grey water which attain water security. involves urban issues in data is generated. So to use the potential n Water bonds of water. wealth of the water discharged from our So both Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal n Water credit enhancement instruments household is also planned in this mission. Shakti Abhiyan have been started. We n Water credits, trading and marketplace UK are working in the field of cleaning of n Dedicated Water impact funds has been partnering Denmark Our vision is to convert each drain, each river Ganges and infrastructures are with us in developing a has been working pond, each lake, each reservoir, and the being built for treatment of wastewater Finally, this programme cannot be decision support system on water resource ground water aquifers into active water along the river. But, apart from this, we successful if we do not engage people for Ramganga basin as management aspects resources rather than passive ones. In will have to ensure industrial alliance and communities. We are embarking on well as wider research in in . India we have less than 10% storage and technological alliance because a number of special outreach initiatives the water sector. capacity above the ground. Water around until and unless technology is being that will bring knowledge about water to 4000 BCM is received every year through connected with water, we can’t make all communities. The programmes shall be The EU rainfall and snowfall, and the total ourselves water secure. And we need to delivered through community owned and India water harvestable water is somewhere around start to invest in data also because still managed projects. You will appreciate partnership shall 3000 BCM. But our present capacity of we do not know how our aquifers are. and welcome that this initiative will form the bedrock retaining the water above ground is only How deep are our aquifers? How big provide a platform for global partnerships. of collaboration 250 BCM. are the aquifers? So we have adopted The platform is taking an action-oriented with each of the EU a program for this also –to identify approach to deliver impacts. This is member nations. For underground water aquifers are the aquifers, and on priority basis we have where we can strategically partner with largest source of water that we have. Our taken it up for the 256 districts where the many countries.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 13 ]

And many other nations are involved in a Efficiency, having set up the Energy At NMCG and strategic manner with us. But we need to Efficiency Services Ltd which has the cGanga we initiated do a lot more, particularly in a coordinated largest portfolio in the world. It is also setting up of manner. Therefore, through this particular embarking on a major electric vehicle call for action, we invite the nations to initiative. working groups focus their efforts and resources in the with each of the Ganga River Basin. Through the Water Impact Initiative, we nations’ embassies would like to form a new alliance that At NMCG and cGanga we initiated will take knowledge to other parts of the active in the water setting up of working groups with each world, or leverage each other’s resources sector in India. of the nations’ embassies active in the to solve water crises in the most difficult That has helped in water sector in India. That has helped in regions. coordination but we would like that these coordination but we efforts are doubled in the coming We have already sown the seeds to would like that these 12 months. partner with our African partners. A few efforts are doubled months ago, we hosted the Minister of in the coming 12 India has taken a global stewardship role Water from Ghana and would like our of late in many areas of sustainability, research institutions and private sector to months e.g. as a world-leader in adopting take their collective knowledge to African Finally, we would like to invite you to our solar energy, and has championed nations. We would like to initiate a formal flagship India Water Week from 24th to the International Solar Alliance. It has partnership with African nations for 28th September 2019 and India Water one of the largest footprints in Energy collaboration in the water sector. Impact Summit scheduled for 5th to 7th December 2019 at the same very venue. I request nations present here and those that aren’t to lead delegations from your respective countries to participate in these events.

I hope that what I just mentioned excites you and shall encourage each of you to extend your hands of cooperation with India. In the end I would like to say, we Indians believe in “VASUDHAIV KUTUMBAKAM”, which means “the whole world is our family”, and our family today is struggling for clean water. As a family it’s our responsibility to hold each other’s hands and provide each other with the best of what each has. If you have technology, innovative ideas or surplus resources, share them with your global family.

Thank You.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 15 ]

Ambassador of Argentina

And I believe that this goes to the question international cooperation for us that you have to get all people on board for the practice of not wasting water. It’s is basic, and we think that the U.N. a collective effort that has to be done by General Assembly Resolution 1803 the country itself to help create these opportunities. Other important issues are concerning permanent sovereignty the hydrological basins. And in this regard we share the same view that you have in of the countries regarding its own India concerning the main basins of the rivers. In this regard we have a long story natural resources has to be the because we are a downstream country basis on how you administer these in our region. So we have shared rivers with Brazil and some other neighboring international basins countries. The creations of international agencies help in managing the different opportunity of working together in very rivers. So that has been a practice that different fields like research on availability has been very good for us in terms of of our ground water resources, generation international cooperation in the field of use of technical bodies trained in implementing of water. tools to adapt to climate change, boosting investments in public irrigation works, Ours is a country where we have focused generate an efficient use of aid from the I will stress what I was saying earlier, development of renewable energy for on water as a strategic and crucial environmental, social and economic point that international cooperation for us is agro industry production, development resource since we think of it as the most of view. That’s a little bit of summing up of basic, and we think that the U.N. General and implementation of more efficient strategic natural resource of the century. what we’ve been doing on the national plan Assembly Resolution 1803 concerning technical irrigation systems in water As a consequence the government has for water I believe that there are two or permanent sovereignty of the countries use and soil care, and implementation of designed the national water plan that in three things that are worth mentioning. And regarding its own natural resources has to precision agriculture systems that allow place since 2016. The main objective is one of them refers to what the minister said be the basis on how you administer these less consumption of water resources. So positioning water resources as a key factor that we consider all the water resources international basins. these are a few examples of areas in which for sustainable development in line with as a strategic good and a human right. we believe that there is great possibility of the 2030 Agenda. This was also mentioned And its management must be, designed And finally I would say that in the case cooperation between our countries. Thank by the minister. I am promoting PPP to and executed as a collective practice. of India we think that we have a big you so much.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 17 ]

health of the river so that it sustains over and leapfrog in a sense, don’t make the Australian High Commissioner time the rights of the farmers to access that same mistakes we make. Learn from them water. This was not something that came and be more successful when you apply out of the sky. It came in through many those lessons to the work that you do. The very little water. We do this because of the years of work, many years of trying and Australian Water Partnership is currently conservation of water and in the careful expertise and focus and, to be honest, with supporting workshops to develop a river use and husbandry and management quite a lot of pain in the process. basin planning guide in India. As well as The Australian Centre of environmental water for agriculture that, we have a number of smaller scale for International and also in urban water supply. We are So what is Australia bringing to India in projects – working with farmers across Agricultural Research, a country that has paid a huge amount all of this? We have been working with India, for example, through the Australian of attention in recent years to careful India over quite some years now through Centre for International Agricultural which is working on the conservation of water and distribution of our sustainable development investment Research, which is working on the concept concept of conservation water through the use of expertise that we programme and through various projects of conservation agriculture using no-till, agriculture using no-till, have developed over the years, and through under that. To improve and administer with results that don’t require, for example, the careful application of technology on them I was very interested to hear your burning off stubbles that preserve the with results that don’t urban water. For example we’ve made interest in data. So to improve India’s data environment but also improve the health of require, for example, very large achievements but also very collection systems we are now very well the agriculture with the use of less water burning off stubbles simple ones. Possibly one of the best advanced in supply. We are now very well through the agricultural process. that preserve the known urban water saving device known to advanced in supplying design planning most of you, particularly in the developed for national water Informatics Centre in I could go on because, of course, it’s my environment but also world, is the dual flush toilet. And very India. Similarly we’ve been working on favorite subject, but I thought that I would improve the health of the few people know, but that was something the management of water, energy and draw to your attention Australia’s very agriculture with the use that was invented in Australia. We may food security in three main Himalayan deep commitment to working with India. have a difference of scale with India and river basins, the Indus, the Ganges and Our ongoing commitment to working with of less water through the it’s very significant. You know Indians are the Brahmaputra river basins. And what India are very warm, and we welcome the agricultural process very quick to point out the relative sizes of we’ve been doing in that process has initiatives of your minister and that of the our populations, but we share with India been harnessing Australian expertise prime minister from the Jal Jeevan Mission many of the same challenges in water and technology to ensure food, water to the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and through all management. For example Australia, like and climate security in those areas. Now of those areas where Australia can work India, is a federal system of government. those basins of course have great cross and is very happy to work with the Indian We have to constantly balance cross- jurisdictional issues and what we are very government. So once again I thank you for jurisdictional legal issues, responsibilities happy to bring to the story is our learning the opportunity given to me to speak today, between state governments and federal and our expertise. What we hope is to and I look forward to a long partnership. governments. This is particularly so where share that with India. So India can learn Thank you. we have river systems and one of our most prominent river systems is the Murray- Darling Basin system. So we have great expertise in river basin management. It’s worth noting for Indians that the length of the Murray-Darling River is exactly the I represent a country that is the driest same as the length of the Ganga and it runs continent on earth. I also represent the across three states just as the Ganga goes country which is one of the world’s largest through many states. We have had to pour agricultural producers. Our agricultural in a lot of effort over many years, and have production – at about 60 billion dollars a come up with a world leading system for year– represents a very large contribution, managing the water flow from the Murray- and even in agricultural products Australia Darling Basin. And let me tell you that the is a world leader and a leading exporter. Murray-Darling Basin supplies 70 percent For every Australian that an Australian of Australia’s irrigated agriculture: a single farmer feeds that farmer will also feed river basin and we are able to manage the another four. We manage to do this with environmental supply of that to manage the

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 19 ]

Ambassador of Brazil I want to mention also something that you said and for me is abso- lutely the key, which is the principle First of all I would like to thank you for small and large hydropower plants but inviting us and sharing ideas here. I also in the new kind of hydropower that if you don’t have the people think it’s a very good formula and I really in the more delicate environmental appreciate that we have this opportunity. contexts which we call run-of-the-river with you It is never going to work. I will try to be very brief, first highlighting dams which have the smallest possible some of the natural resources in our reservoir with maximum efficiency in And, so, we have to think of SDG 12, country, then the importance of water for the production of electricity. of the unsustainable patterns of us because of hydroelectric power, and also the challenges of wastewater and Now, very quickly, I’ll mention the production and consumption sanitation pollution that we have. challenges taking into consideration our population, which is very modest First of all we are I think luckier than obviously compared to India. We only But the good news is that we are India and the U.N. But I want to mention Australia by her description because we have 200 million people. But we obviously advancing also in that and São Paulo also something that you said and for have a very high annual rainfall average. have challenges that I see here in India now has the Secretary of Water, who me is absolutely the key, which is the We have 12 different river basins. We and that fortunately in some cities in used to be the president of the World principle that if you don’t have the people have a very large territory as you know, some areas have been very successful Water Forum, Mr. Benedito Braga. And with you It is never going to work. And, which is two and a half times that of in Brazil. And we have a national water he is now developing a new business so, we have to think of SDG 12, of the India. Then we have two of the largest agency that is responsible for studying, solution or proposal for the rivers in São unsustainable patterns of production and aquifers in the world – one shared with identifying and checking what is being Paulo which is very ambitious and very consumption. And we have to work on Argentina. And we have the largest done in different regions and in different interesting and we want to also share this that together and we would be absolutely tropical wetland area. contexts. Which I believe has very great with you also. delighted to do that. similarities with India. We have very large But what we also have very much in cities like you and with very frustrating Finally I want to mention, as my Argentina I would like to thank you also for the common with India is the fact that we projects like you. We have projects of colleague did, the context of the UN’s the invitation for the water innovation summit are a developing country with enormous depollution in São Paulo and depollution SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). and the water week. And I will try to get challenges. But we have already this in Rio. And they’ve been lasting for 20 Obviously there are many SDGs related the best minds possible to come from special circumstance that Brazil is years and this is highly frustrating. So in to water, but there was one of specific Brazil and develop some new ideas that already 87 percent urban, which is a very matters of frustration we can share a lot interest, which is SDG 6. And we’ve we can work together with. big difference from that of India. talk to about. been working a lot with that – Brazil, Thank you. But we have very uneven availability of water in the territory. So, for instance, the northeast of Brazil has 25 percent of interlinking project which is something the population and less than 3 percent also that India has been developing in a of the available water. So we have some very sustained way. experience also that we are very glad to be able to share with you. And I would A word about hydropower: As you like to mention very quickly one that has know we were not lucky because we a lot to do with Jodhpur because it’s our didn’t have coal and we didn’t have assistance program. We built more than oil. Today we think it’s not unlucky, but a million systems in Brazil and they are at the time it was considered unlucky. extraordinarily similar to the ones that And so until now Brazil had to develop Jodhpur has developed and it’s a very hydropower in a very intense way and brilliant project. it still represents three quarters of our electricity. And we have developed And, also, we have a very important river those very interesting technologies in

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 21 ]

High Commissioner of The Gambia

water. And this negatively impacts on their Now, a few months ago in collaboration We do request through you school education and on their jobs, which with cGanga’s Vinod Tare and Water Honorable Minister that has a subsequent consequence on their Impact Summit, quite a few of us African we strengthen this India national productivity. So Gambia is very ambassadors had participated in the keen to learn about the Prime Minister’s roundtable with a touch of the India Africa Africa Water Forum and program on Jal Jeevan Mission which aims water forum. Now it’s extremely pleasing give it impetus, and we’ll to bring water to every household in India. to hear that India would want to continue also – as the Brazilian sharing ideas, as the honorable minister So we’d obviously be very keen to see this has said, as part of a world family. ambassador has said – succeeding and hopefully emulating that ensure that we have quite a the world over. And we’re also delighted And we hope that the India Africa Water few relevant stakeholders to hear about the progress that has been Forum will play a great role in the sharing made in the Ganga cleaning program of these experiences as the Honorable and technicians come to which I heard a lot about during the Minister had said. So, to keep it very brief, attend the Water Impact program that the Secretary hosted last in conclusion we do request through your Summit and the other events year. And you know we were very keen Honorable Minister that we strengthen that you mentioned which to share about this program and others this India Africa Water Forum and give it from India, and particularly around the impetus, and we’ll also – as the Brazilian would be happening in a Thank you very much. Honorable Minister, the Ghana High Commissioner who policies that have been developed around ambassador has said – ensure that we few months time Secretaries, Excellencies, Ladies and unfortunately could not be here today, I am the water rights and water pricing – how have quite a few relevant stakeholders Gentlemen. I am from the Gambia. And you very delighted to be part of this important to regulate water usage in the various and technicians come to attend the Water know, for most people who haven’t heard roundtable. sectors including industry, how to better Impact Summit and the other events that about it, it’s one of the smallest countries manage water in agricultural sector, and you mentioned which would be happening in the world. And, you know, despite the The Honorable Minister has highlighted to how to develop more efficient run-of-the- in a few months time. And we also invite modest figure of the population that Brazil everybody about the water crisis that the river hydro programs and much more. Like people from the ministry and cGanga as has set for itself of 200 million, we are world is facing. And you know everyday India, African nations also have to develop well to come and visit our countries as really just 2 million. However, water does people are going without clean water. indigenous capacity in these sectors in well to share some of your knowledge play a major role in our country because As in Gambia people dying each year of government and in the private sector. So and technology transfer and project the country is cut in half entirely by the contaminated water. And women and we’d be looking at emulating the best investments and so on and so forth. River Gambia. So, on behalf of Gambia children are walking several miles every practices as well from India and to catapult and my African colleagues, especially day, sometimes twice a day, to collect and empower our nations around this area. Thank you very much.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 23 ]

Ambassador of Israel

rainfall in a year. Since our independence was established seventy three years ago the rainfall now is less than half of what it used to be. The population grew fifteen times since then. And now there is still abundance of water. We export water to our neighbors. So,the technology is there. The methods are there. We are keen to share them. And it’s a comprehensive approach. We just need to make the distinction between the sources and the users. How we increase the sources of available clean water for different users. And this is where a world leader is.

Israel now desalinates 70% of our drinking water;and recycles more than 90% of the water that we use. This is an underside of the sources. And, of course, exact amount of water and fertilizers that we harvest water very efficiently but then each part of the field needs of a particular decide the aggradation in the uses with user, using water in a very efficient remarkable progress. So now we use manner. many-many efficient ways and methods just to save water and to use it very Here in India now we have many projects efficiently. I mentioned only some. So we all over India. I will start towards the have techniques that help us to minimize center of excellence that to implement the loss of water. We lose less than 3% of advanced techniques of using water the water that we get. Of course we are efficiently drip irrigation as said is one of metering every water that we use. We use them. And many other techniques using a very sensitive structure of incentives the right crop, right seeds that are drought in order to give the sense of the value of resistant, etc. can be elaborated later. water to citizens. And, yes, I agree that we need to harness the population to that, so We have many projects of master plans, we see ourselves as a water-respectful desalinating plans, recycling plans that culture. And you have this policy for water you use all over India. I can mention independent of weather. So now if we Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Of course we are metering every water Thank you so much for inviting me. get more rainfall it’s only a bonus. But we Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh for a that we use. We use a very sensitive gain full control what our uses of water flagship project for a comprehensive I shall try to keep it short but I would like are. And we are, as I said, keen to share approach that we use. As I said about structure of incentives in order to to open with a very optimistic remark. all these experiences, these know how’s, demand and supply of the sources and the give the sense of the value of water to Yes, indeed. I agree that water is one of these techniques with our friends here users a comprehensive approach was the the biggest risks that the world is facing in India using the many techniques that right structure to mitigate this challenge, citizens. And, yes, I agree that we need now. And what we can say about water is are mentioned here for drip irrigation and and of course we are willing to share all to harness the population to that, so something that we can control. In Israel, other techniques that we use now use of this experience and technology with our most of the area is desert and the rest is precision agriculture. We use drones and friends here in India. we see ourselves as a water-respectful semi-arid area, which is a very low starting satellites in order to be very efficient so you culture. And you have this policy for point – less than 100 millimeters annual can monitor the fields and calculate the Thank you. water independent of weather [ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 25 ]

Agriculture is interested in working And, finally, I just wanted to mention corporate social responsibility work Representatives of Embassy of United States of America with India on development of drought also from our business community and other factors – to try to figure resistant crops which has been a very that we have a number of business out ways whether it’s in farming successful program in the American groups here including the American or it’s in health care or it’s in clean West, for example, where the rainfall is Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.- river management. So we are putting Mr. Minister thank you very much for least. And then also our NASA (Space India Business Council and also together a program on that front too. inviting us today and for your comments Agency) is working with ISRO (Indian the U.S. India Strategic Partnership on the water situation and your plans for Space Agency) on an Earth-Monitoring Fund. The Strategic Partnership So we have a lot of things going on India. I think any of us who have been and Satellite project. This will be very Fund has launched a CEO Water currently. We also have a number of here for any time at all have recognized good for the meteorologists and others Alliance asking companies that are things that we would like to launch. We the significance of the water issue in who are looking at forecasting or looking working here in India whether they look forward to working with you, Mr. India. And it was most noticeable to me at trends in farming and things like this are involved directly in resource Minister, and your team and we will carry this summer, when the Prime Minister through satellite imagery. We had a management or in energy or I.T. or on from here. just after his inauguration for the second visit recently from our U.S. Army Corps any other industry to get involved term chose his first radio address to the of Engineers. If you’re familiar with this in this – perhaps through their Thank you for the opportunity to speak. nation on the weekend following his group they are responsible in many inauguration to talk about water issues ways for the flow of the Mississippi River and the importance for India. through the middle part of the United States of America¬– including the dikes United States stands ready to So I want to assure you that the United and levees, the flood control systems, and States stands ready to support efforts the infrastructure support, and they stand support efforts in India to both in India to both advance clean water ready to work with India on similar types solutions for health reasons and other of infrastructure projects here in this advance clean water solutions social aspects. And that we’re also country. And our Commerce Department for health reasons and other interested in working in irrigation and is working with the business community farming. And then, of course, on the clean to try to do a trade mission to the United social aspects. And that we’re also river projects and other types of areas. I’ll States. This would be in February of next just mention a few things that we’re doing year. It’s on water and wastewater. The interested in working in irrigation right now and then I also have a few wastewater component, for example, is a other areas where I think we can we can very important part of the equation so that and farming. And then, of course, work forward to develop more programs there are adequate treatment facilities on the clean river projects and because I think it’s one thing just to say rather than say dumping them into rivers we’re doing some things, but we also and lakes. other types of areas want to try to take the next step and look beyond that.

So our national oceanic and atmospheric association is working the Ganga but on rural areas or smaller with the Ministry of Earth Sciences. rivers. And our foreign agricultural They have an agreement to study the service is working with the Ministry monsoon and the patterns of rainfall of Agriculture to study irrigation and across India. On science basis this farming and to try to make things more is a very good project going forward. efficient in that spectrum in terms of The U.S. Agency for International withdrawing groundwater. Development USAID is working with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agriculture obviously is a huge issue Affairs on safe drinking water for the here. It’s a very important to India’s population in India. USAID also works economy – maybe 50 percent of the with the Ministry of Environment on workforce and the bulk of the water rivers and watershed management, and that’s used is servicing that part of the most of these are taking place not with economy. So our U.S. Department of

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 27 ]

Ambassador of Slovenia

sometimes it’s about security to manage We are ready and happy to further the weather calamities which, of course, enhance our partnership with India. The can come with water. Our institutions works that we are considering are: Two Slovenian and companies have developed many innovative technologies for sustainable Twining projects between our water companies, one for management and uses of water. During expert participants in certain projects satellite gathering of my 4-year tenure here in India I have and Indian counterparts in order to water data and one realized that water has been climbing up solve water challenges. For example: on the government’s priorities here How does Slovenia manage to clean for flood management, in India. the lake Bled? We had a fantastic lake have successfully which 35 years ago was almost dead; completed the The call of PM Modi during his recent now it is one of the tourist diamonds in Independence Day speech on water the world. Then technical and scientific evaluation process preservation and more efficient and cooperation to include water projects to become part of the sustainable use of water have been well into bilateral program of Science and Clean Ganga Water noted. What can we do regarding the Technology,which we hope will be signed Pilot Project water partnership between Slovenia in a month’s period when the President and India? Slovenia is ready to share its of India will visit Slovenia. Then we lessons learnt and best practices with have also the possibility of technology My country is also of the size as my the environmental context. Maybe as India in that regard. This is first. exchange, but technology exchanges neighbor here at the Gambia table a kind of curiosity, two years ago we are also in the projects I have already said. Somewhat the same size of changed the constitution and put water The first step has already been done mentioned. I would like to say that I population, let’s say. But my country as a right of all citizens to access that by our private sector. Two Slovenian come from Slovenia which was a former Slovenia is also among the fortunate water. By including water issues among companies, one for satellite gathering territory of Yugoslavia in the so called ones. It is rich in water resources. our priorities we have along the way of water data and one for flood the non alignment movement very near However, that doesn’t mean that water developed many good practices in water management, have successfully to India. I would like to say my own has been neglected by our government management, learned the importance completed the evaluation process to personal comment on that we should and in development policies. On the and acquired knowledge of cross-border become part of the Clean Ganga Water take Technology as a business and if it’s contrary water has always been an water cooperation. As our country is Pilot Project. Two more have possibilities worthy just buy that. important priority in Slovenia both in small and shares water with neighbors, to become part of the Clean Ganga efforts the economic development context and it’s not so much about sharing water but in the near future. Thank you.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 29 ]

Ambassador of South Korea

Whenever I see the Yamuna think about Han River. It’s well developed with patience and Yamuna can also become a river like Han. Yamuna is also may be 1 Km wide like the Han River. It’s a very big river and the river flow is always at the same level; it’s very beautiful and the river sides are developed as sports facilities and many different things city of Seoul. It’s almost like Yamuna Han River. Whenever I see the Yamuna which people can enjoy River in Delhi city, and it went through think about Han River. It’s well developed urbanization and increase in population with patience and Yamuna can also to almost more than 10 million like New become a river like Han. Yamuna is Delhi. The HanRiver at first was severely also may be 1 Km wide like the Han polluted, but I can say that now it’s River. It’s a very big river and the river one of the cleanest rivers in big cities flow is always at the same level; it’s Thank you very much for inviting us to management as many developing regulatory framework and adequate of the world and is well managed. The very beautiful and the river sides are this important gathering. I think it is a countries are facing now. We had financing were introduced together. government launched the Multi use developed as sports facilities and many very good opportunity to know about no management for our wastewater The Korean government made a 20-year Han River Department Policy, which different things which people can enjoy. the situation of India’s water problem, collection neither any treatment National Water Resource Plan in 1965, it was quite a painful process and That is what I want to say to Minister, and we think we can get detailed facilities. However in the early 1960s the and it has been modified and updated needed patience to implement. Now the Secretaries and Head of cGanga. We information and the vision of India. Korean Government decided to integrate periodically till today. river water has purified and the water are prepared to share with Indian Using this occasion I would like to the water sector into the overall quantity is managed efficiently,and it government Korea’s experience and share briefly about Korea’s experience economic development policy, linking Now I’ll briefly mention about the Han has become citizen-friendly and also a knowledge in transformation and hope to in water development. After the Korean the water sector to issues like hygiene, River Project. The Han River is a big tourist attraction in Seoul. Citizens are further co-operate in the water sector. War in the 1950s Korea faced the education, housing development and river and it’s almost 1 km wide which served universal access to clean water, same challenge in water resources industrial transformation. The legal and flows through the central downtown and enjoy their lives with the beautiful Thank you very much.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 31 ]

In Yamuna more than 25 Agencies are involved in Yamuna River. However; the active management and restoration Ambassador of Spain of the river and its catchment is not a priority and mandate of any agency. Just to give an example, Delhi has 900 water Thank you thank you very much, talking to the minister Mr Hardeep Singh Honorable Minister, Secretary U P Puri, and Niti Aayog. And, well, everybody bodies, but only one water body has been Singh, colleagues distinguished guests, was interested, but we have not been able restored in the last five years. Now there ladies and gentleman. I’d like to start by to move forward. thanking the minister for organising this are tender of 200 water bodies. The case is round table that gives us the opportunity One of the main issues that I have not that they do not have technology, and to talk about water with the ministry. It is seen in its stopping is the problem of extremely important that all stakeholders governance and in the relation of state, money is not the problem. The problem and the fraternity meet and discuss at the city, and central government, and the regional level or state level because then fundamental reason is the lack of clarity is this complicated administrative we can also talk bilateral about issues in Administrative structure with regard structure of three layers of government more precisely. Thank you very much for to the management of water resources it. And I would like also to congratulate at state or city level. For example, In your government for the creation of a Yamuna more than 25 Agencies are about is the possibility of creation of a being one of them. So we are very Ministry of Water that shows the interest involved in Yamuna River. However; the water resource authority at City level. interested in working on water. Spain has of the Government and the importance active management and restoration I think that it was done with the Metro a lot of things to offer as well. We have a that this government is giving to water of the river and its catchment is not a project in Delhi that could solve a lot few companies working in India. We are and problems that may be caused by the priority and mandate of any agency. of issues, and for Delhi with 25 million doing now the hydrological map of the lack of water. In fact water is the critical Just to give an example, Delhi has 900 people it’s something that has to be country,we are working in Rajasthan, we issue in the coming future. The World water bodies, but only one water body tackled, because the problem of Delhi are working in Maharashtra, in Punjab, Economic Forum publishes an annual has been restored in the last five years. can be solved. Solution is there and we and I am trying to work in Delhi and the report on global risk and classifies them Now there are tender of 200 water are ready to give technology to do it and Yamuna River. No I don’t want to keep in terms of probability and impact. Among bodies. The case is not that they do not even financing with the support of the you longer, but I repeat that we are the three global issues in terms of the have technology, and money is not the European Union. Infact I am working ready to co-operate in India on all those impact, the highest ones are extreme problem. The problem is this complicated closely with the European Investment matters that we can support in view of weather events, natural disasters, and administrative structure of three layers of Bank because with European Union a our expertise and knowledge. failure to mitigate climate change and government. So one of the suggestions huge amount of its financing goes to water crisis. These three are basically that we are even tell different Ministries climate change related issues, water Thank you very much. all related to water. Infact 70% of the deaths from these events are caused by water, either due to an excess of water or its scarcity which is needs to be managed. Managing water is very and we have done a five year study about productive. Every though lenders in the the situation of the Yamuna and potential bottom has a returns between 3 and 34 solutions. We have even proposed for dollar depending on the area and the EU funds to tackle some of the issues technology. Water also give employment in a holistic and integrated way. This – 42% of all jobs are water-related, while is because you cannot manage water another 36% are partially related to water without river management, they are all like tourism and construction. What it together when we talking about cities. means is that a city without water is a city And then we propose even to tackle without jobs. the problem of Najafgarh drain which contributes about 60% of the pollution I have been working for last year specially of the Yamuna River. We were able to in relation to the Yamuna river. We have advance different issues,talking 12 times been working with University of Virginia with the Secretary Mr. UP Singh and also

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 33 ]

Canadian High Commission

firms have a global reputation for to complex water treatment solutions, Canada continues to invest in clean excellence, supported by a robust measurements and analyses. Planning is technologies to help protect the Canada remains keen innovation ecosystem. The groundbreaking also underway to bring a delegation from environment from climate change and to further explore technologies that have been developed Canada in October to focus on water, create economic opportunities. With opportunities to in Canada address water challenges wastewater and solid waste management, over 2.3 billion dollars budget since enhance water related around the world. From conveyance and to explore opportunities to pilot 2017 Canada is delivering on its two and distribution to treatment and reuse, Canadian water related technologies in billion dollar climate finance pledge collaboration at Canadian solutions are dramatically industrial settings. On water rejuvenation to developing countries and is already multiple levels, and changing the way the world manages one very close partnership we have announced 1.3 billion dollars in projects. India’s leadership on water and wastewater. Canadian with India is IC-IMPACTS. It is a bilateral Canada is working specifically with India companies are already directly engaged research centre of excellence dedicated to to contribute to global function programs, this issue provide us in contributing to India’s water and serving challenges related to infrastructure, such as 220 million dollar contributions with opportunities for wastewater market in partnership with health and water. In 2018 IC-IMPACTS for the Climate Fund. India is also eligible continued engagement Indian companies particularly with respect and Indian Department of Biotechnology to access Canada’s 150 million dollar Thank you. The Issue of water waters,and so we have concentrations to water purification and wastewater. To Science and Technology signed a joint contribution to the second phase of the on potential avenues of transformation is one that is close to our of large population. There are Canadian give you an example, a Canadian company work plan for the rejuvenation of the river Canadian private sector fund to the Asian collaboration heart in Canada. We recognize that water companies that have developed expertise by the name of Ovivo utilizes state of the art Ganga. IC-IMPACTS strategy aims to clean Development Bank. I’d like to conclude is a precious resource, and that it deserves and technologies related to managing the technology to treat and purify water and water and control pollution as close as by reiterating that Canada remains to be protected and taken care for stresses of water on earth in populated wastewater in India. In addition Ovivo has possible to the source of pollution and keen to further explore opportunities to stewardship. Canada is firmly committed areas, and we look forward to deepening centres of excellence in Surat and Pune. before it makes it drains into the main river enhance water related collaboration at to managing its responsibility. As I am the collaboration with India and with the Another Canadian company called Trojan System. This, of course, with prior solutions multiple levels, and India’s leadership on sure everyone in the room knows Canada Ministry of Jal Shakti on the management technologies is active in India and has that are cost effective and space efficient. this issue provide us with opportunities looks at water from a different perspective. of freshwater resources. more than 10000 UV installations around By establishing a cluster of International for continued engagement on potential We are a large country with abundant the world treating billions of gallons of and co-developed clean technologies avenues of collaboration such as the freshwater resources and a relatively I’d like to make a few comments about water per day. There are other prominent IC-IMPACTS will not only effectively build upcoming events about water conference small population. You may not know that Canadian technology and how Canada Canadian companies such as Premier Tech the knowledge to clean large water system and IIFA India trade show in October. I’d 80% of the Canadian population lives is already engaging with India on water Aqua, Ecotech and Realtech. They are in the next 2 years, but it will also trend the like to thank you again. within hundred kilometers of our southern issues. Canadian water and wastewater also doing business in India contributing next generation of expert in both countries.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 35 ]

German Deputy Ambassador

financial assistance with loans amounting to 150 million Euros allowing the upgrade and the construction of sewage treatment plants, sewage systems and pumping stations and at the same time, in the framework of our cooperation on the Namami Gange project, we provide technical assistance very much in the spirit of Holistic approach.

In Germany we have saying that the best way to clean the river is not polluting it. There fore in cleaning the river you have to reach out to all the polluters; enterprises, farmers, municipalities, and individual households – which is the most cumbersome task. For individual houses in Germany, each household pays for the waste water it gives to the sewage system, which is very difficult to sell to normal people, since they have concentrate on Uttarakhand for the the procedures, so that we could also put to pay not only for clean water but also for upper Ganga. We are ready to extend this on the table for these consultations. waste water as for birthday gifts. And in this our cooperation to Uttar Pradesh, but Let me also flag that we are proud to period of heuristic approach, you also have also beyond the Namami Gange mission contribute to the EU programs of the India to connect with other regulatory executive we are ready to contribute to broader EU Water Partnership. So in a word we are bodies of the government in Delhi together water management cycles. For example very happy to partner with India on water with governments in the various states and rainwater harvesting, storage of flood related issues, in particular the Namami municipalities and Institutions and Agencies. water, recycling of water, etc. In fact India Ganga Mission. And we are ready to But, most importantly, what is needed is can capitalize on the monsoon rains, and enhance this cooperation in the future. behavioral change, and I think the Honorable it should capitalize. One and a half years Minister said very eloquently that when you ago I visited Meghalaya where they have Thank you very much. talk about people’s movement, you have to a long period of monsoon every year but have people’s movement living in the basin of then also have dry season, and if you would Ganga River. This, for example, is a common have check dams in the mountains you mission, and both of us have cooperated could harvest the water in order to make it Germany is ready to upgrade its on the annual Ganga Quest and the award available when you need it in winter time. contribution within the Namami ceremony on the occasion of the World And if you have check dams you can also Thank you. Let me first of all join the has to be a comprehensive one and you have Environment Day in June, and Germany has avoid the floods going down without any Gange project. For the time being we ambassador of Spain commending the to bring all the relevant actors on board with the GIZ, our implementing organization, who control to the valley during the monsoon will concentrate on Uttarakhand Indian government for the creation of Jal regard to programs likely to be setup. As you has very well contributed to this Ganga Quest time. So we’re ready to step in. There is Shakti Ministry bringing all water-related know, the Honorable Minister and we had as well as to the so-called Ganga Box which huge potential all over the country for this for the upper Ganga. We are ready executive responsibilities under one single the opportunity to talk about how Germany is we have set up for schools. The Ganga Box is rainwater harvesting and storage of flood roof. I think this reflects the holistic and very heavily involved in the Namami Gange an interactive information tool for schools so water. Let me also remind you that we to extend our cooperation to Uttar comprehensive approach which is needed Mission of the Indian Government, building that you start from scratch from the very early will have Indo-German Intergovernmental Pradesh, but also beyond the to tackle such a complex issue has water. on our successful experience in cleaning the days in school in raising awareness. Consultations later this year with In the case of water all challenges are Rhine River and the Danube River. In case of Chancellor Merkel coming to Delhi and Namami Gange mission we are ready interrelated – harvesting, storage, supply, Rhine River it took 30 years and so, building Now Germany is ready to upgrade its this would be a good opportunity. We’re to contribute to broader water waste-water treatment, cleaning of rivers, on this experience, now we support and contribution within the Namami Gange already in the run up to these consultations ground water. Therefore, also the solution partner with our Indian friends in terms of project. For the time being we will to flag your specific interest and go through management cycles

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 37 ]

EU Delegation to India

Thank you very much. Let me join starts with space orbiting technologies. making. I already mentioned business Business as a very everyone in thanking you for calling We are putting free of charge scientific as a very important factor to supply important factor to for this opportunity to explain what data at the disposition of India through our technologies and knowhow. Also, to bring we’re doing and also how we intend Galileo satellite system. We are looking at in investments in this sector, Governments supply technologies and to collaborate with India on this very collaboration in river basin management. are very important, but they should not be knowhow. Also, to bring in important issue of water. As you rightly We have in the European Union a number doing everything by themselves. Business investments in this sector, said water is the essence of life, the of international river basins, and therefore should be coming and investing in this essence of humanity. It’s also the basis we have some quite considerable sector, and very soon as well we will see Governments are very of any modern economy. And I believe experience, and I believe the collaboration a number of business missions coming important, but they should your government has actually for a that we have from your top of River to India from the European Union to look not be doing everything longtime realized the importance of that Basin Committee. This is something very at fostering our business cooperation in issue. Already for the past two summits important. I had the distinguished pleasure policy dialogues. by themselves. Business –EU-India summits water was a very to be in one of those workshops and I should be coming and key central theme. And they were very really appreciated the discussion, the Lastly let me mention water research and investing in this sector, and important commitments made by our high-quality discussion and collaboration innovation initiative. We are about to fund very soon as well we will leadership and by Prime Minister Modi that took place in that setting. Of course 7 projects in this particular sector with to work together on the issue of water in the Ganga River is something special – it 40 million Euros, and this will be realised see a number of business all its forms and all its dimensions – as is a river basin which is very close to all in the coming years. In short I think we missions coming to India source for drinking, rivers means for our hearts. It’s something very special, have really a very broad spectrum of from the European Union transportation, in the field of agriculture, of high symbolic importance, economic things that we have to offer. We are very and energy generation. So it’s a very importance, and very important spiritual keen to work with you, to work with state to look at fostering our complex multifaceted topic. I believe dimension to it. And very soon – next governments, and to work with the Indian business cooperation in the importance that our leadership month in fact – there will be an important business community on this important and policy dialogues gave to the topic of water is also built mission coming from Europe which will cross cutting sector. And I’m very, very on decades of collaboration in the field be working together with your officials in much looking forward and also excited to of water. The EU has been working the collecting or management of data for further collaboration with you. together with India on many aspects like strategic decision making. I think this will agriculture and river basin management be very crucial to support policy decision Thank you for decades. In fact one of the key initiatives that has been launched that my colleagues have already mentioned, that you have also mentioned as well, is the India-EU Water Partnership. This so special. The EU brings a wealth of is really a key flagship topic and I really knowledge of technologies and also would like to underline the importance of financial means you, and I believe that, and also the very special approach the fact that about half of the foreign that we have in there. It is of course very partners and dignitaries that they are important that government to government here represented are actually from EU relations look at this topic, but I think member countries shows how important it is so complex that actually you need the role of the European Union is, and of to involve all levels of society and all EU with all its member countries is. And levels of government in that important what we can bring to the table. topic. We have in EU - India partnership state levels, we have communities, we I already mentioned the wealth of have business communities there, and things that we can bring and also the that is also what makes this partnership collaboration that we already have. It

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 39 ]

Embassy of Norway

Thank you for having us around this table today. At the outset I think it is right to salute the government for the high priority you put on water related issues. Accessibility of clean and safe drinking water, prevention of pollution, the rejuvenation of rivers and healthy oceans have all been very high on the Government’s agenda for a long time. The National Mission on Clean Ganga, While we are institutions like cGanga, and the very contributing on working recent announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission are testimony to this. I am proud on water, land and sea, to say today that Norway has a little share we are contributing in this very immense task. We have since to the sustainable the last Summit been a part of your efforts through our company Cambi signing a development goals that MoU with cGanga. Dr Tare knows very well we have all pledged to the work of this company. Bringing high try to reach. And without level international know how in designing wastewater plants and their projects in the India the world will not Ganga basin has proven very successful. reach the SDGs. So we are proud to stand here Norway has been working with India today all hand in hand in four particular areas that we are very happy to say are growing and of with India in greater and greater importance for our these efforts bilateral cooperation. One is wastewater treatment. One is the prevention of marine pollution. Another is solid waste kilns so that you can at the same time development and not least in a very large management. And the last and not reduce fossil fuels and reduce the waste programme of research collaboration. least one, started new this year, is our using it as an energy source. And for This work obviously also has great work together on Integrated Ocean water, as for other areas of environmental environmental consequences and I would Management, which we believe is a reply improvements, we believe that this idea like to say as my final point today that to the call for the minister on a holistic of a circularity of our resources and our while we are contributing on working on approach to land water and sea water energies are the most important. water, land and sea, we are contributing inevitably being closely linked. The land which we are very proud of. You might And next week or the week after there is to the sustainable development goals that based waste if not managed will reach the not be aware that little Norway and big an important delegation from Niti Aayog If waste is managed well it will obviously we have all pledged to try to reach. And seas and ruin the ecosystems. We have India have approximately the same sea going to Norway to study Integrated Ocean contribute greatly to how we manage our without India the world will not reach therefore recently started marine pollution area under our national jurisdictions, and Management where we look at the use and water pollution and it will help the health the SDGs. So we are proud to stand here collaboration with India. When our two we believe that in this field in particular production and food transport and energy of rivers and water bodies and ultimately today all hand in hand with India in these prime ministers met in January this year will be able to share with India some of issues of the oceans in one holistic manner. also the sea. So, ladies and gentlemen, efforts. Minister, you asked if we were they signed a MoU on an important our experiences and bring forward some Besides water and rivers, we are also in conclusion Norway’s cooperation willing to be part of your Water Mission. political ocean dialogue and a task force of the important technologies that look working with India on waste management with India is growing and we are on both And the answer is that, yes, we will, and on the blue economy and as a part of this into waste, energy, climate, sea, and, not on solid waste, which has become very sides reaching out for very interesting Norway also. visit. Also we signed a 10 million dollar least, drinking water for India, like we interesting. One of our projects is using opportunities both in industrial and contract on marine pollution management have managed some of this in Norway. hazardous industrial waste to fire cement commercial collaboration in technology Thank you.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 41 ]

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 43 ]

Additional Remarks Mr Sanmit Ahuja, Expert Member, cGanga

Just before I pass the ceremony’s baton back to the top table, I’ll make just a couple of announcements and some insights. We’ve launched a portfolio of impact projects which cover not only water resource management. The minister alluded to that to provide water to every household. We need to create enough capacity in our water supply, so integrated water resource management will feature very heavily in the coming months. And we’ll share the list of these projects. Just to name a few. Assi River in Varanasi, Najafgarh drain and Hindon River in Delhi, Jhojri River in Rajasthan and a few others have been put on the planning map. In addition to resource management,we are also looking at a number of ancillary areas: sustainable agriculture, waste management, removing plastics from water bodies, creation of water markets, Last year from NMCG we and water trading platforms. You will see a lot of emphasis from us on data, financial initiated a formal working instruments, and, most importantly, pass this message back to your colleagues and necessary, but due to paucity of time group between embassy community engagement programs. So and partners in the embassy that, can we just have to draw the session to its and the ministry so that we we’ll share the presentation with you on we please try and meet more often? conclusion. But, before that, Dr Tare can I can start cataloguing the all of these topics and projects, but we We’ll formally circulate to you the set up pass the microphone back to you? invite every single one of you to come in catalogue exercise which I think is already work that has been going and contribute and participate in these completed. And let’s keep that current and Dr Tare: So last time in December we had on between the country initiatives. So much work is going on fresh at all possible times. Finally don’t the India Water Impact Summit. So I would and India. We request you between India and a number of countries just rush off. There’s a group photograph like to request the minister to formally and it’s difficult to keep track of it. Last planned at the end of this particular event release the report. to pass this message back year from NMCG we initiated a formal in the room across the corridor. So those to your colleagues and working group between embassy and the are the announcements from me. I know IWIS 2018 Post Proceedings Released partners in the embassy ministry so that we can start cataloguing there are others who couldn’t get to speak. I would now like to request Mr U P Singh, the work that has been going on between But please accept our apologies. We will secretary to give his impressions and how that, can we please try the country and India. We request you to take your inputs. They are very important do we go from here. and meet more often?

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 45 ]

water planning as you all know has to be based on a basin basis, hydrological boundaries are more important than the administrative Concluding Remarks boundaries actually. So we are bringing a River Shri U P Singh, Secretary Basin Management Act actually, so that we would be setting up a River Basin Management Authority

on Swatch Bharat Mission. It became such a success than the administrative boundaries actually. So we are because it became a mass movement actually. So bringing a River Basin Management Act actually, so water conservation and water is now in our own top that we would be setting up a River Basin Management agenda, and we all are working basically to make it a Authority. We are also working with the states on mass movement. Since you have shared some of the quite a few other things. For example; Maharashtra best practices, given a chance I would ever so like to today had a fairly successful what is called a Water share some of the best practices. But for paucity of Regulatory Authority. We had one round of discussions time I would not get into details of it. I would just like with other states also to have a certain kind of water to make a mention of four or five points, very briefly. resource regulatory authority. So quite a few structural changes we are planning, that’s one. One is that we are bringing up structural changes also in water governance. See, we are not talking right now The other is that, we had been talking earlier of all water of change in the constitution or something and moving resource development. Many of you may be aware water from our state subject to our central list and all. that India has the third largest number of large dams. No, I’m not talking of that, but what I’m talking of is Only US and China have more number of large dams within the constitutional parameters themselves. For than India has actually. But then, in water resources example; I had been to Spain sometime back. Spain development now our focus is more on water resource was a country which had a River Basin Management management. And that on sustainable water resource Authority way back in the 1930s actually. And water management. We may not be able to create much of planning as you all know has to be based on a basin storage, but whatever the water is stored, how do we basis, hydrological boundaries are more important utilize that more gainfully, more efficiently, and more

Honorable Minister, Excellencies, my colleagues, what is called “Mann Ki Baat” through a radio talk Professor Tare, and friends. First of all a big thank you actually, because in India even today perhaps radio to the Excellencies for coming in such a large number, has the kind of reach which no other means of I had an opportunity to engage with quite a few of you communication has. And in the very first talk after this on one to one basis with this, but then perhaps this new government was formed, he devoted more than is one of the first times that you had a meeting at the 10 minutes on water and water conservation. Not group. Almost all the countries who were present here only in that one, in July in his Mann Ki Baat again he had some engagement or other in the water sector mentioned about water. And then again, as someone in India, and I’m sure that today’s deliberations will rightly pointed out, in this year’s Independence Day take those engagements to a bigger height. Already speech. Perhaps he spoke the word water 22 times. it has been said that how India has put water on its Perhaps only one less than what he said about top agenda. Many of you already mentioned about human or something “manaviya”. And then, as the the creation of a Jal Shakti Ministry for integrating all Honorable Minister said, let us make Jal Andolan a the functions relating to water. Excellency from USA Jan Andolan, make it a mass movement. A movement also mentioned that the Honorable Prime Ministers for water should be a mass movement. And my senior engages from time to time with the people through colleague is here who has been heading a program

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 47 ]

Earlier our mandate was only Ganga but now, with Jal Shakti, all rivers of India come under our mandate

meaningfully? It’s something we are emphasizing basically on that. While I’m not saying that no dam times to come the extreme events will increase both are managing sewage treatment plants. So we have actually. On that I would like to say that our interventions should come, maybe wherever feasible it will come. But in frequency as well as in intensity. So how do we gone one step ahead and we have come to a concept earlier have been more on what is called supply side our emphasis should be on the smaller structures. manage those extreme events to beat droughts and of “One City One Operator”, so that for the entire city interventions and those in terms of our large dams. beat floods? Regarding floods, also we are working on for the greenfield projects as well as for brown field But no large dams because there are many reasons. Then the other very important thing is demand side a lot of things, but then not all states, like all countries, projects they all get integrated and basically we The first reason is that most of the best sites already management. Unfortunately we haven’t worked so have these kinds of problems. Structural measures are have one operator managing all those sewage have been taken for construction and to address all much on this, and there are both policy changes and, one part. But how do we bring in data and technology treatment plants. other problems like resettlement, rehabilitation, land as our Honorable Minister has said, certain kind of to have non structural measures? For example, we acquisition, environment clearance, forest clearance behavioural changes also required. Some of the policy have partnered sometimes back with Google because But now our focus is not only on treatment of our and quite a few issues actually. So we are also saying changes may not be very easy to implement but we will Google has what is called the Digital Elevation Model sewage or industrial effluents. Someone rightly that the smaller structures are no less important. try to work them. All of you are aware that water in India which we didn’t have. So how do we increase the mentioned made about the Yamuna in Delhi. Yamuna Someone rightly mentioned that maybe Delhi had 900 is a state subject. Many of the states provide what is prediction time? How do we have the inundation map of in Delhi is perhaps the most polluted stretch of the water bodies, but most of the water bodies over a period called free electricity or highly subsidized electricity for all those places? So there are a lot of things which we river in India. In fact, Professor Tare about two years of time have gone into disuse actually. We have millions pumping. Everybody knows the story of Punjab today need to do on managing these kinds of extreme events. back when he was speaking somewhere, he said of such structures all over the India, traditional water where groundwater situation has become so bad, and that a river is that which flows. So by that definition bodies. As our Minister keeps saying, in India we always the state which was not growing paddy today grows a And lastly I would make a very brief mention about for seven eight months the Yamuna is not a river have been kind of worshiping water. We have a very lot of paddy, and the reason is basically free electricity. River Rejuvenation because everybody talked about because for seven eight months Yamuna doesn’t large number of tanks, wells, and other traditional water Similar is the case with the procurement in India. Not the Ganga. Earlier our mandate was only Ganga but flow in Delhi. No matter even if you treat all the bodies which has gone into disuse. So we are working many countries have this concept of procurement, now, with Jal Shakti, all rivers of India come under sewage which goes into Yamuna unless you have where government procures a lot of food grains, stores our mandate actually. We have done certain things, water. So what we are working on is how do we and distributes them through public distribution system. for example, as many of you are aware, which is on basically ensure that there is adequate quantity of Now today this public distribution system and this pollution abatement side. Very briefly, I will talk of water flowing into the river. It could be not only by, procurement works mainly for crops like paddy, wheat what everybody talks over in India that we construct let’s say, determining something on environment flow and sugarcane, and all of these are fairly or highly sewage treatment plants or sewage infrastructure and then ensuring that kind of thing everybody sticks water consuming crops actually. So how do we bring but they do not function well. We say that we pay to, but also things like reducing the consumption of in certain policies with which we get to grow more of for construction, we don’t pay for performance. Now surface water, groundwater, wetland conservation less water-consuming crops? One is of course the crop, from our culture of paying for construction we are and plantation. All these measures in the second the other is the agronomic practices. Many agronomic shifting towards the culture of paying for performance phase we are emphasizing because we are equally practices need change – somebody was mentioning in the sense that we have something of a hybrid concerned about the flow of water in the river. direct seeding or something in the state in place of annuity mode. We have taken up projects – one of Someone said that the solution to pollution is dilution. transplantation, so we are working on that. the projects has already been commissioned under So we need water to dilute actually. There are quite this hybrid annuity mode where we pay just 40% to a few other things which we are doing but for want Another aspect, of course, everybody knows about the developer till he commissions, balance 60%he of time I wouldn’t like to carry on, because another is climate change and its impact. Perhaps this year will get along with interest along with Operation and colleague of mine will speak and all we’re talking Baroda had 600 mm rainfall in 24 hours. Our honorable Maintenance provided he runs the plant satisfactorily, about is Jal Jeevan Mission and other initiatives. So minister comes from an arid area as you know – he that is for whatever design parameters that he meets. thank you very much once again and I am sure that comes from Rajasthan (Jodhpur), and those areas Basically this we have brought in to ensure a long this is not the only forum we will keep engaging in are known for having 200 or 300 mm rainfall in a year. term sustainable performance. We have gone one future too. Nobody would have thought of a flood in an area step ahead in another way. In one city in India you like Western Rajasthan. Today it’s a reality that in will find there are three or four or five people who Thank you very much.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 49 ]

Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary (DWS)

making behavioural change at large scale is something Thank you. Minister Jal Shakti, Secretary U P Singh, professor Tare, Excellencies. I’m going to which we have experienced in try and keep it very brief. It’s the end of the day and I’m initially going to talk about sanitation because India, triggered by something there’s been a lot of discussion about water. And as all of you know I think the honorable minister would we learnt in the last five have already mentioned it. Under the Swachh years which we shared in an Bharat Mission, I think there was somebody who spoke about India’s contributions to the Sustainable international convention Development Goals. Well, on sanitation when the Prime Minister announced this Swachh Bharat last year Mission in 2014 India was contributing to 60 percent of the world’s open defecation, so out of 1 billion people 600 million were Indians. And that of Gandhi Ji. But the point I was trying to make was a big challenge, but the Prime Minister always was the movement for behavioral change as announces big goals. He said that the country Secretary, Water Resources mentioned. And what will became open defecation free in five years I think is that making behavioral change at large by 2nd October 2019, and so from the coverage scale is something which we have experienced of about 39% in 2014 today it’s more than 99%, in India, triggered by something we learnt in the and we are on track to achieve the goal by 2nd last five years which we shared in an international October which is of course 150th birth anniversary convention last year. But we just remind ourselves

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 51 ]

about it because it has a direct bearing on be launched in September on plastic waste the water program. management. And this program is going to culminate in a big bang collection drive So we spoke about the four Ps. The first P on the 2nd of October. The Prime Minister period ends. And so water conservation is source sustainability, unless the ground water was Political Leadership, this was the first mentioned that in the 15th August speech very much on agenda. is recharged, and unless we reuse the water, time we have the again. And we are planning this work with waste water coming out of drinking water talking of toilets and sanitation from the Red all other ministries and departments, and And, finally, the announcement made by will produce stagnant water in villages. So it’s Fort. The second P was Public Financing we would very much welcome participation the Prime Minister, the Jal Jeevan Mission source sustainability, point source recharge, We have 35 where the government invested more than from you in this campaign which will be which the Honorable Minister spoke about. rain water harvesting, then piped water supply 20 billion dollars– both center and state – in going to run from September 11 right up to Just to give you a couple of details about this in households, followed by 75% piped water million household sanitation. The third P was Partnerships. Diwali which is on 27th of October. So it’s program: The honorable minister has already supply from households coming out as waste connections in How we are working with development about getting people out collecting plastics, been holding extensive discussions with state water either from kitchen or from bathing. India and the plan partners and countries such as yourselves, but, more importantly, effectively disposing ministers. Another meeting is planned next And that could be reused with relatively low is to have about 185 which helped us in that program. And the of it. So we will share more details of it as Monday, where we will get details, strategies cost treatment so that it can be reused again fourth P, perhaps the most important, was we go long. and road mapping of this program together with for recharging the ground water and even for million household Peoples Participation. It became what we the states. It’s very ambitious. The plan is to go agriculture. We know Israel, for example, are connections. So this called it a Jan Andolan. Our people took Third point the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, which forward from what we have today. We have leading the world in reusing waste water, and is an unprecedented this program, adopted it and implemented was already mentioned by many of you, 35 million household connections in India and lots of experience we are getting from Israel it by themselves. So I think lots of lessons and we are already getting support from the plan is to have about 185 million household from Australia. We are very grateful to the high program are there. We are now working on what a large number of countries. We are very connections. So this is an unprecedented commission of Australia for bringing experts to we call Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) grateful for this support. It’s about the program, but like this government, this Prime give us advice. I am hearing all expressions of which is a broader sanitation agenda at water conservation program, which again Minister and Minister are leading us with support and welcome you all. So the Jal Jeevan the intersection of water and sanitation. is meant to be a people participation the phenomenal experience on the ground in Mission will actually get implemented in a few We are talking about plastic waste program about which we have learnt a lot Rajasthan and I think globally. I think we are in weeks from now and it will be full steam ahead. management, grey water management, from sanitation and many other programs. good shape. Of course, this is up to the states All the support we can get from you is very black water management, etc. In that So this program, we have realized, needs to implement, but again it’s a three in one welcome. context the second point I want to mention to be scaled up and mainstreamed, which program. We have learnt lesson from the past was another big campaign that is going to this ministry will do once this campaign that unless you provide drinking water with Thank you.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 53 ] National Mission of Clean Ganga and cGanga, we had requested all the missions, and we got very good response from all of you about creating a kind of working group Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, DG, NMCG like structure where we can have more institutional discussion and dialogue and then carry it forward

from Korea we had very interesting experience investment and other things. Norway, we had about how the Han River was rejuvenated. I mean it discussion about waste water treatment plant, and as an experience for a big city that kind of thing is also marine related issues where we can work possible, and that is something really to learn, and together. there is also something to learn that they started with a very long term national water plan for 20 This was also a forum to remind us,like I have also years. Similarly Spain, we’re, yes, very close and we been told, to reflect on the road map. We have lots have had a lot of discussion separately as secretary of existing relationship like the India Africa Water Mr Singh also said about Yamuna and what could forum, India – EU Partnership, that’s one way of be done. With Canada we had lot of discussion working. Last year from National Mission of Clean about some delegation visiting, technology, then Ganga and cGanga, we had requested all the also IC-IMPACTS and MoU, which I think we have missions, and we got very good response from all to note in our mission and also work on that. With of you about creating a kind of working group like Germany we have a very close partnership, and structure where we can have more institutional they talked about the technology, technical support, discussion and dialogue and then carry it forward. and financial support. There was also discussion I would request all of the Excellencies to once about some of the public outreach programs that again look at them or may be nominate some nodal they have supported. And then with EU we had a agency/ person from your mission with whom we lot of discussion about river basin management, can discuss on more regular basis. I think they were

Thank you. water, climate change; Brazil also talked about SDG 6, national water agency, and behavioral change Honorable Minister of Jal Shakti Mr Shekhawat, was also flagged there; then Gambia talked about Secretaries Mr Iyar, Mr Singh, Excellencies. I would importance of water in smaller countries and how start with thanking all of you profusely for coming mutual exchange can benefit. With Israel, of course, in such good number. And not just coming, rather we have a number of areas to work together, but giving your absolute commitment to support our they also have experience of center of excellence endeavor, and also to share your rich experience and various technologies and methods to conserve in respective countries. I won’t take much time, but water. With US, we had discussion about clean while I was listening to each one of you, certain water project, clean water solution plus various broad areas emerged. They border upon river basin MoUs and various agencies which are working planning from Australia and data related issues; together. Similarly we had, in case of Slovenia, a Argentina talked about research, underground very interesting Twining project talked about. Then

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 55 ]

also nominated but we have to revisit that talk about and, before I close let me also have pollution abatement related things, issues which have been expressed once again. very briefly tell, we have been discussing you have also environmental flow, and and then we will come back to you and about water sector and river rejuvenation. then after we have started that way request some of the bilateral meetings Now the This is also a very good opportunity to Now when we started this Namami Gange many of the countries told us about basin to be carried forward and broad ways to know about the visits of many delegations Program –maybe I will take just a few management – whether its Murray- not just Ganga River as sir rightly said. experience that coming in the next couple of months and seconds and tell because there are some Darling basin management, Germany Now the experience that we learnt will we learnt will maybe we can prepare together to make issues whether it is Ganga or Gange: basin management plans for Rhine go to other rivers and can go to the entire go to other rivers best use of those delegations. This is also See, Namami Gange is an expression River and the Danube River, and other water sector. So once again I thank all the an occasion to look at some of the MOAs from Sanskrit where we basically, as The places also. We are having interactions; Excellencies, all the distinguished guests and can go to which we have already signed, and may Honorable Minister rightly said, value basically the idea is to develop a kind of for coming here, sharing your views, the entire water be bilaterally take it up about what we the river as mother, and Ganga is one of River Basin Organization,a very robust your rich experience,and also committing sector have achieved and how we can further the most revered rivers. So when we say river basin organization on these lines that you are going to be very strong strengthen those MoUs. And maybe we NAMAMI it means we salute you, and learning from them for our country also. partners with us. I thank the Honorable can look at new MoUs or new institutional GANGE is kind of calling her, so basically So that’s one area. On public outreach sir Minister for sparing so much quality structures to develop with more partners. the meaning is WE SALUTE YOU MOTHER talked about behavioral change and the time and guiding us. I also thank Mr Iyer, There are a number of visits planned, a GANGE. The name of river is Ganga. This sanitation issue and Jal Shakti Abhiyan Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation number of international events planned, is the way we call and give respect to and water mission under the leadership of and also Mr. U P Singh, Secretary, Water and then I will again remind you about the river and that’s why the name of the honorable minister. So there will be much Resources River Development and Ganga your support and participation in the mission is Namami Gange. That is one more attention about making it a kind Rejuvenation; Professor Tare and each India Water Week and then the Indian thing. And in this we actually first time of people’s movement. So what I would one of you making this meeting a success. Water Impact Summit. These are some tried kind of basin management approach suggest from my side, from cGanga’s side, of the things I just got the opportunity to for river rejuvenation. That’s why you we will summarize some of the bilateral Thank you.

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 57 ]

Group photograph

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 59 ]

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 61 ]

Round Table Discussion on Water Impact Initiative organised by cGanga & NMCG

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ 63 ]

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] [ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ] Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies © cGanga and NMCG, 2019

[ AMBASSADORS’ MEET 2019 ]