The Uttar Pradesh State Mission for Clean Ganga on Monday organised a one-day seminar on “Groundwater Conservation and River Rejuvenation”, bringing together policymakers, scientists, academics, government officials and water management experts to discuss strategies for addressing the state’s growing water security challenges.The seminar focused on groundwater recharge, river restoration, sustainable water resource management and community participation, with speakers emphasising that long-term water conservation requires coordinated action by governments, technical institutions and citizens.
Addressing the gathering, Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh highlighted the need to transform water conservation into a mass movement and urged participants to promote sustainable water management practices in their respective communities.Additional Chief Secretary, Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, Anurag Srivastava, called upon participants to act as “water ambassadors” and encourage public participation in conserving groundwater and protecting water bodies.
Raj Shekhar, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), interacted with students attending the seminar and stressed the importance of safeguarding water resources amid rising demand and declining availability.During the event, the State Mission for Clean Ganga also introduced the ‘Ganga Gyan Chakra’ initiative and released a publication highlighting the mission’s work. Individuals and organisations that have made notable contributions to water conservation and river restoration were honoured with the ‘Bhagirath Samman’ awards.
The technical session featured experts from academia, government and international organisations, including representatives from GIZ, IIT (BHU), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University and the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. Discussions covered groundwater depletion, river rejuvenation, rainwater harvesting, technological innovations in water management and the role of community-led conservation efforts.Experts warned that falling groundwater levels and increasing pressure on freshwater resources demand a combination of scientific interventions, policy support and public participation. They underscored the need to revive natural water bodies, strengthen rainwater harvesting systems and adopt sustainable water management practices to improve long-term water resilience.
The recommendations emerging from the seminar will be considered for incorporation into future policy and programme implementation by the State Mission for Clean Ganga.
The event concluded with a renewed emphasis on collaborative action to strengthen groundwater conservation and river restoration across Uttar Pradesh under the broader vision of ensuring long-term water security.
