Events

Guest Post by: D. S. Rawat,ASSOCHAM

Image and Content Courtesy: ASSOCHAM It is our great privilege to inform you that ASSOCHAM under its Cool The Earth , Initiative is organizing International Summit on "Water Governance , Critical Issues For All"at 9.00 a.m. on June 24, 2009 at ASSOCHAM House, New Delhi. Our initiative is supported by the Ministry of Water Resources, UNESCO, International Water Management Institute, and Water Technology Centre, (IARI), KPMG (as knowledge partner) and other prominent organizations in water sector. As is evident, Water is going to be of increasing critical importance to countries like India in the coming years. ASSOCHAM has been carrying out special studies and surveys on water conservation and related issues. Our view is that water is going to be as integral part of whole infrastructure system as roads, power, etc in the development process in future. During informal consultations with government officials, experts and NGO's, we have been advised to raise awareness about water management among the consumers, industrial houses, agriculturists, environmentalists, NGO's, media, etc. so as to generate priority concern for all and to help find right solutions.

Forwarded to the Portal by: Nitya Jacob, UN

Dr Kurien Baby, District Collector of Trissur, Kerala, and Solution Exchange Water Community are organizing a regional meeting to discuss the effects of the Mazhapolima program. The dates are 16-17 June 2009, and it will be held in Trissur.

Background

Kerala has among the highest well densities in India, and 71% of the population depends on them for drinking water. The aggregate household investment in the state on wells is pegged at Rs 1800 crore and they have a combined yield potential of 6.6 million cu m per day. That works out to a water availability of 197 litres of water per capita per day (lpcd), well above the government's prescribed norm of 140 lpcd. These wells are threatened. Despite an annual rainfall of 3,000 mm, 70% go dry in summer. The surface runoff is heavy, and therefore groundwater levels in several blocks have fallen sharply, and coupled with saline intrusion at an accelerated pace, have led to water quality problems.

As India's economic boom gathers more and more momentum with each passing year, industrial water and energy use and related environmental impacts are going to be among the most critical factors in resource sustainability debates in the country and elsewhere. The companies portrayed represent a wide spectrum of industry: paper, metals, agro-processing, synthetic fibre, petroleum, transport, cement, energy, fertilizer, soft drinks and more.

Made available to us by the CII, the presentations offered here describe in detail just how these varied companies have undertaken wide ranging and often innovative eco-friendly modifications to equipment and procedures both within the their plants and in the townships around them. Technical parameters, financial implications and gains/savings are all clearly documented, making them valuable resource materials for study amongst the industrial community in India and elsewhere. While specific industries can of course gain from the sector specific innovations, there is also a wealth of material on ideas whose utility cuts across sectors, potentially benefiting industry as a whole.

• Click here to view all the presentations
• Read a description of the event by S. Vishwanath of the Rainwater Club who was on the jury
• Click here to visit CII-GBC website

As a major user of water and generator of effluents, the corporate sector has a tremendous impact on India's water and sanitation situation, especially in the current context of accelerating growth and industrial development.

Image and Content Courtesy: Development Alternatives As part of the Capacity Building Series (2009- 10) Development Alternatives is organizingA Result Oriented Approach to Livelihood Projects from 12-14 June 2009. The training is organized by the TARA Livelihood Academyand will be held at the Institute of Social Science, 8 Nelson Mandela Road, New Delhi. Complete information regarding the subjects covered, detailed plans & nomination formats can be accessed here:

Image and Content Courtesy: SIWW 2009

Singapore International Water Week 2009, themed Sustainable Cities , Infrastructure and Technologies for Water, aims to help achieve long-term benefits. You will find sound professional advice and clear business direction from various market segments to help you overcome tough challenges in uncertain times at SIWW 2009!

The event's flagship programmes comprise: • Water Leaders Summit • Water Convention • Water Expo • Business Forums • Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Access the Event Schedule online here: Singapore International Water Week 2009 - Schedule Access Advance Event Programme here: Singapore International Water Week 2009 - Advance Programme

Forwarded to the Portal by: Dr.Latha Bhaskar, ATREE Image and Content Courtesy: ATREE

A 15 day 'Theatre and Communication' workshop was held by water related NGOs from 12 states. This movie demonstrates the accomplishments of synergy and how after this workshop theatre was used in hundreds of schools to convey water related messages to the community.
Courtesy- Ministry of Water Resources, Time- 16:45 minutes

Image and Content Courtesy: Confederation of Indian Industry and Indian Business Alliance on Water Confederation of Indian Industry, is organizing the 6^th edition of the "Water Summit 2009" to facilitate investments and encourage Public Private Community Partnerships in Water, a 2 day event on 11 & 12 June 2009 at: Jacaranda, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003 (INDIA). The main objective of the Summit is to: * Catalyze Investments in Water Sector * Promote Public Private Community Partnership in water management * Share knowledge on best practices and innovative technologies Water Summit 2009 will focus on:

* Catalyzing Investments in Water Sector * Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting and innovative water management technologies * Exclusive session on water saving technologies, products and innovative case studies * Challenges and Opportunities for Public Private Community Partnership in Water Management * Innovations in industry and NGOs partnership.

Government representatives, Municipal Water Authorities, Industries from different sectors, Research organizations, Decision Makers from Financial Institutions, Equipment Manufacturers/ Technology providers, National and International organizations working on water management, Consultants, Nodal Agencies and NGO's are invited to attend the conference.

Water summit Registration Form and Programme.

Forwarded to the Portal by: Madhavi Purohit, WASMO

Image and Content Courtesy: WASMO, UNPAN

Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO), Gujarat wins the United Nations Public Service Award. Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO) of Government of Gujarat has been declared winner for 'United Nations Public Service Award - 2009' under the category of "Fostering participation in policy-making decisions through innovative mechanisms"for "Institutionalization of Community Managed Drinking Water Supply Programme and User Level Water Quality". This award will be received at a ceremony to be held on 23rd and 24th June 2009 at United Nations Head Quarters in New York. It is an internationally acclaimed Award being conferred by the United Nations, Division for Public Economic and Public Administration, New York, for recognizing the significant contribution made by the organization to improve the public administration. The UNPSA Programme recognises institutional efforts to design, provide and expend services to citizens in a cost effective manner while promoting people's participation in the design of services and the definition of their needs for poverty alleviation and as a step forward to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Bangalore Film Society, Arghyam, Svaraj- Society for Voluntary Action Revitalization and Justice, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca College, USA (FLEFF) Mountainfilm in Telluride, USA, Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore, Charter of Human Responsibilities and Water Journeys - Campaign for Fundamental Right to Water are organizing the fourth edition of the largest international film festival on water - Voices from the Waters 2009 from Friday 4th September, 2009 to Monday 7th September, 2009. Established in 2005 to promote among the public an awareness of the myriad water-issues affecting our everyday lives either directly or indirectly and as a platform for alternate voices and views rarely heard in mainstream, Voices from the Waters started as a Bangalore-based Environmental Film Festival and over the 2007 and 2008 editions grew to be one of the largest, most diverse and dynamic platforms of debate, dialogue and celebration of the precious resource, the blue gold, life itself - water.