DJB, IIT-Delhi to collaborate on water security, take up R&D initiatives
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT-Delhi to collaborate on issues related to water security in Delhi. The public water agency and the premier institution will collaborate on identified research & development (R&D) initiatives in areas of water supply and distribution; wastewater conveyance, treatment, recycle/reuse and disposal.
The MoU will also allow both partners to work towards development of policy and best practice initiatives for wastewater treatment and its reuse/recycling to achieve the goal of zero waste discharge into drains and River Yamuna.
“The MoU seeks to foster a collaborative partnership between IIT Delhi and Delhi Jal Board, Govt of NCT of Delhi, based on shared interests in the area of water and wastewater management and policy infrastructure within the overarching domain of water security and its sustainability under present and future climate scenarios”, said Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai.
As part of the MoU, IIT-Delhi and DJB will work together to build shared knowledge platforms and to disseminate data and information products to improve understanding of water and wastewater management alternatives for NCT of Delhi and also collaborate to jointly develop smart operation and management framework for DJB’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
The two will collaborate to jointly develop effective and efficient strategies for management, improvement and rehabilitation of DJB’s water distribution and wastewater conveyance systems and also work together to develop continuing education and training modules for in-service officers of DJB as part of the capacity building.
“This MoU will provide a platform to facilitate collaboration between IIT Delhi and DJB in joint studies, research, training and data sharing in problems of common interest such as operation & management, policy and planning of water and wastewater infrastructure”, said Professor Dhanya CT of IIT-Delhi’s Department of Civil Engineering.
According to an official statement, in February 2019, IIT-Delhi, under the aegis of Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), had entered into an international collaboration to develop new approaches to tackle the challenges and barriers to water security and sustainable development (WSSD) with a special focus on NCT of Delhi. The project is funded by Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) of theUK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
“The MoU between IIT Delhi and the DJB is of mutual benefit and serves as an indication of continued interest in cooperation to majorly use the findings of the international collaboration funded by the UKRI for addressing the water security issues faced by NCT Delhi,” said Professor A K Gosain of IIT-Delhi’s Department of Civil Engineering.
The international collaboration aims to bring together leading global experts from academia, industry, and government of NCT of Delhi to understand the complexity of water issues and address the impending challenge of water security for all.