The second Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), being held between June 22 and 26, will witness participation from India?s movers and shakers of the water industry. The event comes in the wake of the Supreme Court of India directing the Centre to explore methods to solve water crisis in the country by undertaking scientific research on a war-footing. The Supreme Court directive even informed the Indian government to explore usage of foreign technology to tide over this water crisis in the country.
Ministers from both central and state governments apart from bureaucrats and a panel of top government officials, industry captains from India are expected to take part in a big way at the India Business Forum to share the strategies, challenges and business opportunities for building sustainable growth in India from various perspectives.
The India Business Forum will be chaired by Jamshyd N Godrej, chairman, CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre and chairman and MD of Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. New Delhi chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been invited as chief guest to the India Business Forum. While Sanjay C Kirloskar, chairman and managing director, Kirloskar Brothers, will chair one of the session, M Ramachandran, secretary, ministry of urban development will be delivering the keynote address for this session. Arun K Nanda, chairman, CII National Committee on Water and executive director of Mahindra & Mahindra will speak about the Indian industry perspective.
India is facing a turbulent water future. According to World Bank 2008, the current water development and management system in India is not sustainable. With the looming crisis over water resources in the country, threatening the security and livelihood of the population and the environment over the coming decades, the need finding sustainable water management solutions in India is a pressing one.
India can tap on the resources of the SIWW. The global platform for water solutions, SIWW brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world. Although what Singapore has managed must be seen in the context of a much more easily-managed island state. Still, it must be seen against the backdrop of how Singapore has become largely self-sufficient despite not having abundant natural water resources, like large rivers.
Beyond drinking water, Singapore will also be able to share its expertise on waste management- one of the major issues India is facing right now.
