A high-level review meeting, chaired by Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil, was held on July 9, 2025, in Delhi to discuss smart river management, focusing on innovations and international collaboration for river rejuvenation under the Namami Gange program. The meeting highlighted the importance of translating research outcomes into actionable on-ground interventions to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and water-secure future.
IIT BHU, under the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) in collaboration with Denmark, and IIT Delhi, under IND RIVERS in collaboration with the Netherlands, presented innovation initiatives. IND RIVERS focuses on urban rivers and a Decision Support System (DSS) for river rejuvenation and management, specifically targeting the Varuna River. The Small Rivers Management Tool (SRMT), a DSS focused on the Varuna River with the potential to be scaled for other rivers, was also presented. SRMT features modules for population forecasting, water demand and supply estimation, sewage load analysis, and identification of priority zones for Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
The meeting also spotlighted Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) for groundwater replenishment, using real-time hydrogeological modelling to rejuvenate rivers by increasing base flow. Union Minister Patil reviewed the Hydrogeological Modeling in the Varuna Basin project and the Fingerprint Analysis of Emerging Pollutants in the Ganga Basin project, which leverage technologies like FloaTEM and LCHRMS.
IIT Delhi presented a roadmap to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the IND RIVERS initiative, in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Government of the Netherlands. The CoE will focus on research, training, and incubating startups in the water sector, with emphasis on Urban River Management Plans, Digital Twin, AI-based geospatial modelling, water quality improvement, and treatment of emerging pollutants like plastics.
The press release was issued by PIB Delhi and the Director is Dhanya Sanal K with Release ID: 2143445.
Key Entities Referenced
C.R. Patil: Union Minister of Jal Shakti who chaired the High-Level Review Meeting.
Namami Gange programme: A programme focused on the rejuvenation of rivers in India.
IIT BHU: Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), one of the institutions involved in innovation initiatives for river rejuvenation.
IIT Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, one of the institutions involved in innovation initiatives for river rejuvenation.
Varuna river: A river focused on the Decision Support System (DSS) for river rejuvenation and management.
IND RIVERS: An innovation initiative focusing on urban rivers, developed in collaboration with the Netherlands.
National Mission for Clean Ganga: An organisation collaborating with IIT Delhi and the Government of the Netherlands on the IND RIVERS initiative.
Ganga Basin: Location of the Hydrogeological Modeling and Fingerprint Analysis of Emerging Pollutants project.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil chairs a
High-Level Review Meeting to discuss Smart River
Management
The meeting focuses on Innovations and
International Collaboration for rejuvenation of rivers
The Union Minister commended on the collaborative
spirit, technological innovation, and scientific depth
demonstrated by the teams
Posted On: 09 JUL 2025 5:25PM by PIB Delhi
A significant high-level review meeting was held today in Delhi to discuss use of technology and innovations
for rejuvenation of rivers across the country under the Namami Gange programme. The meeting was chaired
by Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil and featured in-depth discussions on the future of technology
and innovations in management of rivers in general and small rivers in particular.
The Union Minister commended the collaborative spirit, technological innovation, and scientific depth
demonstrated by the teams. He emphasized the importance of translating these research outcomes into
actionable on-ground interventions. Reiterating the Government’s commitment to “Aviral aur Nirmal Ganga,”Shri Patil directed all stakeholders to accelerate implementation and scale these initiatives across critical river
systems, ensuring a cleaner, healthier, and water-secure future for the nation.
On this occasion, teams from IIT (BHU) under aegis of Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) developed
in collaboration with Denmark and IIT Delhi under aegis of IND RIVERS developed in collaboration with
Netherlands gave detailed presentations on two major innovation initiatives—IND-RIVERS focus on urban
rivers and the Decision Support System for river rejuvenation and Management with focus on Varuna river.
Both institutions showcased how their research and technological efforts would help in bringing a focused
approach for sustainable river conservation.
The progress of the Small Rivers Management Tool (SRMT) was presented during the meeting as a Decision
Support System (DSS) focused on river Varuna with a capability to be up scaled for other rivers and
catchment areas. Designed as a scientific and fast-response tool for policymakers, SRMT forms the core of
the Decision Support System for River Management. The DSS features advanced modules for population
forecasting, water demand and supply estimation, sewage load analysis, and identification of priority zones
for STPs. During a demo of the DSS, the Union Minister was also briefed on its robust login security and
user-friendly interface—designed to assist decision-makers effectively.
The meeting also spotlighted Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)—a modern strategy for groundwater
replenishment. A plan was shared to use real-time hydrogeological modelling to rejuvenate rivers by
increasing the base flow. Union Minister Shri C.R. Patil also reviewed two ambitious
projects—Hydrogeological Modeling in the Varuna Basin and Fingerprint Analysis of Emerging Pollutants in
the Ganga Basin. Both projects are leveraging state-of-the-art technologies like FloaTEM and LC-HRMS,
offering a modern, scientific edge to river pollution monitoring and treatment efforts.
During the meeting, IIT Delhi presented a roadmap to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the IND-
RIVERS initiative, being undertaken in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
and the Government of the Netherlands. Union Minister Shri C.R. Patil was informed that this Centre will not
only lead practical research but also serve as a hub for training and incubating startups in the water sector.
Special focus areas include Urban River Management Plans, Digital Twin, AI-based geospatial modelling,
water quality improvement, and treatment of emerging pollutants such as plastics. The initiative aims to open
new frontiers of science and innovation for river conservation.
***Dhanya Sanal K
Director
(Release ID: 2143445)