WD NEWS: Cabinet Approves Signing Of Memorandum Of Understanding Between India And Denmark For Cooperation In Water Resources Management
The Union Cabinet of India, chaired by the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, was apprised of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Denmark on cooperation in the field of water resources development and management.
The MoU will strengthen cooperation in water supply and sewage & wastewater treatment through direct collaboration between officials, academics, water sectors and industry.
The broad areas of cooperation envisaged in this MoU are digitalisation and ease of information access; integrated and smart water resources development and management; aquifer mapping, groundwater modelling, monitoring and recharge; efficient and sustainable water supply at household level including reduction of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and energy consumption; river and water body rejuvenation to enhance liveability, resilience and economic development; water quality monitoring and management; sewage & wastewater treatment including circular economy for reuse/recycling of wastewater, including comprehensive sludge management and maximising use of renewable energy in field of water supply and sanitation; climate change mitigation and adaptation, including nature based solutions, river centric urban planning including urban flood management; and nature based liquid waste abatement measures for peri-urban and rural areas.
Ms Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark and Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India has made a joint statement on 28 September 2020 on establishment of Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. The joint statement envisioned co-operation in the field of environment/ water and circular economy, and sustainable urban development including smart cities.
Ms. Mette Frederiksen had made a further declaration during her visit to India in October 2021 on #a) Establishment of Centre of Excellence for Smart Water Resources Management (CoESWaRM), and #b) Establishment of a lab for clean rivers in Varanasi on the lines of Smart City Lab in Panji.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. Of India and Ministry of Environment, Govt. of Denmark signed a Letter of Intent in May 2022 during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Denmark. It was on the intent to enter into a broad-based MoU that will inter-alia cover two new initiatives; a Centre of Excellence for Smart Water Resources Management and a Smart Lab on Clean River Waters in Varanasi. As a follow up of this Letter of Intent, an MoU between DoWR, RD & GR, Govt. of India and Ministry of Environment, Govt. of Denmark was signed on 12th September 2022 during the visit of Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti Mr Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to Denmark.
Source: PIB. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay