IIT-Madras to set up inter-disciplinary water management & policy centre
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is setting up a new inter-disciplinary water management and policy centre to help solve water problems across the country. The proposed centre will provide smart solutions for challenging water problems through designing scalable models by leveraging innovative technologies.
These models would be then be implemented at chosen locations across the country as a proof of concept.
Called AquaMAP, the centre is being established with support from IIT, Madras alumni. Theme Work Analytics CEO Parasuram Balasubramanian and itihaasa Research and Digital president Krishnan Narayanan, both IIT-Madras alumni, have supported this initiative in the form of a seed grant commitment of Rs 3 crore for two years and help in crafting the five-year plan.
IIT-Madras joins a growing list of premier institutes that have set up centres of research & excellence dedicated to management of the country’s water resources.
The proposed AquaMAP is expected to create capability to address complex real-life water problems through consortia approach and also complete successful pilot studies in at least six water innovation villages/towns, that can be showcased as replicable models for water management and policy implementation, within the country, in the next few years.
The centre will also help address at least three chronic water issues through grand challenges and their successful translation into pilot projects besides setting up a state-of-the-art hydro-informatics laboratory. It is also expected to establish alumni and community engagement model and come up as an entity that which can deliver solutions having wide impact and application.
Speaking about this project, IIT Madras Alumni Dr. Parasuram Balasubramanian, Chief Executive Officer, Theme Work Analytics, said,
“I am thankful to the alma mater for this opportunity to contribute to a mission of national priority. A majority of India’s water issues require astute and effective management practices for their solution. We can learn a lot from setting up water innovation villages/towns and running water-themed grand challenges. I hope that AquaMAP proves to be a demonstrated model of success through the collaborative working of community, industry, academia, and technology professionals”, said Balasubramanian.
Narayanan, who is president of IIT Madras Alumni Association (IITMAA) said he was glad to leverage his water-startup experience in India in shaping the vision of AquaMAP. “I am also delighted as an alumnus to give back my time to the institute. Since we have made alumni-engagement central to this initiative, other alumni with expertise in water domain can now apply to become a Fellow, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Project Grand Masters, or volunteers at AquaMAP.”
Professor Ligy Philip from the Department of Civil Engineering and and Dean (Planning), IIT Madras, will be the principal investigator of AquaMAP. She will be supported by 20 faculty members working on water-related issues and drawn from diverse departments such as civil engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, management and humanities & social sciences.
AquaMAP has a governing body chaired by Director IIT Madras and an advisory board with many eminent and well established people in the area of water technology, management and policy.
“We wish to do our best to solve the pressing water challenges in our country. AquaMAP will collaborate with other IIT Madras water research centers such as Sutram, International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW) – IIT Madras, and PCoE on Water and Sustainability, and other partners in this endeavour. We hope to create referral sites that are global benchmarks in water security, water quality and sustainable water management”, said Professor Philip.
