New Delhi, Mar 24: ASSOCHAM actively participated in the World Water Day Conclave organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, fostering a high-level dialogue on the theme “Industry for Water: Driving Efficiency, Awareness and Voluntary Action.” The conclave brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to accelerate sustainable water management practices across sectors.
The inaugural session was graced by C. R. Patil, V. Somanna, and Raj Bhushan Choudhary, along with senior officials including V. L. Kantha Rao, Ashok K. K. Meena, and Archana Varma.
Addressing the gathering, C. R. Patil emphasized the critical role of water in India’s holistic development and urged industries to act as key partners in ensuring sustainable and efficient water use. V. L. Kantha Rao highlighted the need to strengthen research and development within industries to scale Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and promote innovation-driven solutions. Archana Varma stressed that enhanced awareness and voluntary industry action are vital to tackling emerging water challenges.
A key highlight of the conclave was the felicitation of industry associations that have voluntarily adopted Water Use Efficiency targets. ASSOCHAM was recognised for its leadership in promoting responsible water management and advancing WUE practices, with the honour received by Anil K. Agarwal.
The event also marked the release of the national compendium on “Best Industry Practices in Water Management,” featuring significant contributions from ASSOCHAM and its member industries.
A special interactive session, moderated by ASSOCHAM, enabled direct engagement between policymakers and industry stakeholders, focusing on actionable strategies to enhance water use efficiency.
Siddharth K. Desai underscored the importance of technology adoption, innovation, and collaborative frameworks in addressing India’s water challenges, while Ambika Sharma highlighted key policy priorities such as reforms in water pricing and the development of water credit mechanisms.
Key recommendations emerging from the conclave included the adoption of voluntary WUE targets aligned with ESG goals, exploration of water credit frameworks, strengthening of water audits, promotion of rational water pricing, improving water efficiency in agriculture, enhancing public awareness, and developing digital knowledge-sharing platforms and institutional support mechanisms.
The conclave concluded with the signing of a voluntary joint declaration by industry associations and leaders, reaffirming their collective commitment to improving Water Use Efficiency and advancing sustainable water stewardship.
