**Executive Summary**
On 26 March 2026, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, held a high-level workshop to commemorate World Water Day under the theme "Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows." The event addressed India's critical freshwater scarcity, the need for gender inclusivity in engineering, and the integration of AI in hydrological modeling. Key action items include advancing CWPRS’s "Vision 2047" to establish a global center for climate-resilient water infrastructure and bridging the gap between technical expertise and policy-making.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Water Resource Management**
* India supports approximately 18% of the global population but possesses only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources, making efficient governance a national priority.
* CWPRS is committed to "Vision 2047," aiming to become a global center of excellence for climate-resilient water infrastructure and advanced dam health assessment.
* Effective management is required to address the complexity of utilizing limited monsoon rainfall to meet year-round demand.
**Gender Inclusivity and Social Impact**
* The workshop emphasized that encouraging greater participation of women in water science and engineering is essential for innovative research.
* A creative skit was performed by CWPRS staff to highlight the intersection of gender equality and water sustainability.
**Technological Innovation and Digital Governance**
* Experts discussed "Parsimony in Hydrological Modelling" in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to evolve technical standards in the field.
* There is a critical need for better internal platforms in India to connect technical talent and foster collaboration.
* Development of indigenous technologies is stressed as a means to ensure national reliance and resilience against global service disruptions.
**Field Challenges and Policy Integration**
* Some regions, such as parts of Maharashtra, face the dual challenge of experiencing floods and droughts simultaneously.
* Modern water management challenges have shifted from focusing solely on volume to ensuring the availability of pure water amidst increasing pollution and urbanization.
* The engineering community is urged to take a more active interest in policy-making to bridge the gap between technical expertise and governance.
**Impact Analysis**
**CWPRS and Research Institutions**
**Impact**
The institution is positioned as the primary driver for India’s "Vision 2047" regarding climate-resilient infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Must focus on advanced dam health assessments and create more inclusive environments to increase the participation of women in water science.
**The Engineering Community**
**Impact**
Engineers are identified as being under-represented in policy-making and lacking sufficient internal networking platforms.
**Action Required**
Engineers need to actively engage with policy development and prioritize the creation of indigenous technologies to reduce dependence on external providers.
**Government and Water Authorities**
**Impact**
Authorities face the challenge of managing extreme geographical disparities, such as concurrent floods and droughts, alongside rising urbanization.
**Action Required**
Must implement efficient governance models that prioritize "pure water" availability and support the digital transformation of hydrological monitoring and modeling.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune: A premier national institute under the Ministry of Jal Shakti that organized the workshop and conducts research on water-resilient infrastructure.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The central ministry responsible for water resource management and governing the CWPRS.
Vision 2047: A strategic roadmap for CWPRS to become a global center of excellence for climate-resilient water infrastructure and dam health assessment.
World Water Day 2026: A global initiative that served as the primary occasion for policy discussions on gender inclusivity and digital innovation in water governance.
National Film Heritage Mission: The government initiative under which historical archival films of the water sector, such as the 1954 film featuring Pandit Nehru, are preserved.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
CWPRS Pune Commemorates World Water Day
2026; Experts Call for Gender Inclusivity and
Digital Innovation in Water Governance
Posted On: 26 MAR 2026 4:35PM by PIB Mumbai
Pune, 26 March 2026
The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, organized a high-level workshop
today to commemorate World Water Day 2026. The event, aligned with the United Nations
theme "Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows," was held at the CWPRS
Auditorium and brought together leading experts to discuss the critical intersection of water
sustainability, gender equity, and technological advancement. The workshop focused on India's
unique water challenges and the role of scientific research in securing a water-resilient future for
the nation.
In his welcome address, Dr. Prabhat Chandra, Director, CWPRS, emphasized the strategic
importance of water resource management, stating that "Jal Shakti is Rashtra Shakti." He
highlighted that while India supports nearly 18% of the world's population, it possesses only 4%
of the world's freshwater resources, making efficient governance a national priority. Dr. Chandra
lauded the contributions of women in the sector, noting that "encouraging greater participation
of women in water science and engineering" is essential for innovative research. He further
reiterated CWPRS’s commitment to its "Vision 2047," which aims to establish the institute as a
global center of excellence for climate-resilient water infrastructure and advanced dam health
assessment.Prof. Basudev Biswal of IIT Bombay, attending as the Guest of Honor, addressed the technical
evolution of the field, specifically regarding "Parsimony in Hydrological Modelling in the age of
AI." He observed that while India possesses immense talent, there is a significant need for
better internal platforms, remarking that "in India, we lack platforms to connect." Prof. Biswal
urged the engineering community to bridge the gap between technical expertise and policy,
stating, "We as engineers somehow do not take a lot of interest in policy making," and stressed
the importance of developing indigenous technologies to ensure national "reliance on
technology" and resilience against global service disruptions.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Hanumant T. Dhumal, Executive Director of the Maharashtra Krishna Valley
Development Corporation, shared profound field insights regarding water scarcity and
management. Reflecting on the geographical disparities in Maharashtra, he noted that some
regions face "flood and drought at the same time," highlighting the complexity of utilizing a few
days of effective monsoon rainfall for 365 days of demand. He concluded by emphasizing that
the modern challenge is not just volume, but the "availability of pure water" amidst increasing
urbanization and pollution.
The workshop also featured technical presentations by Dr. (Mrs.) Prajakta Gadge on sustainable
solutions and Mrs. Jaee Edalabadkar on comprehensive dam safety. A significant highlight was
the screening of a digitized archival film from 1954, featuring Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at
CWPRS, preserved under the National Film Heritage Mission. The program included a creative
skit by CWPRS staff on gender and water, concluding with a vote of thanks by Shri P. Kunjeer,
Scientist ‘E’..
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PIB Pune | Harshal Akude/Darshana Rane
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