S. Vishnu Sharma
Australia India Water Centre (AIWC) was inaugurated recently with a purpose to foster collaboration in research and education between the two countries.
Australia India Water Centre is established by IIT Guwahati in association with University of Western Sydney.
Australia India Water Centre established for great research
A number of universitites, research organisations and business partners from Australia and India have committed to establish Australia India Water Centre (AIWC).
India and Australia have lot of similarities when it comes to tackling issues related to water. These include natural extremes of floods and droughts, increasing competition for water between urban, peri-urban and rural sectors and increased threats to water security from climate change.
Added to these, there are pressures due to over exploitation of water and also degradation in quality of surface and groundwater resources.
The recent joint declaration at the virtual summit of the Prime Ministers of Australia and India in June this year stated that water security is a critical challenge for both countries.
And it was jointly decided to deepen policy and technical cooperation on mutually agreed activities to improve water management and sustainable economic development.
It was with that viewpoint that Australia India Water Centre was established.
Australia India Water Centre was inaugurated through a webinar.
Minister of Education of Australia Dan Tehan, Union Jalsakthi Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Karnataka Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil were present during the inauguration of Australia India Water Centre.
Indian High Commissioner to Australia A. Gitesh Sarma, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell AO and IIT Guwahati director Professor T.G. Sitharam were also present during the inauguration of Australia India Water Centre.
Australia India Water Centre is led by University of Western Sydney from Australia and IIT Guwahati from India along with 21 other partners from India and Australia.
Speaking during the inaguration of Australia India Water Centre Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he was delighted to inaugurate the Australia India Water Center (AIWC) to promote water related research, teaching and training between the two countries in the presence of officials and experts from the water sector of India and Australia.
‘My wishes for making this collaboration towards water sustainability successful.’
Professor T.G. Sitharam speaking during the inauguration of Australia India Water Centre said Water is likely to play a key economic and strategic role in the future.
Australia India Water Centre will focus on collaboration in transdisciplinary research, capacity building and knowledge and technology transfer, particularly on aspects of water and food security, safe drinking water supplies, river health, water-energy-food nexus, water for liveable cities and other related facets of mutual benefits to Australia and India.
An MoU was also signed during on that occasion with a motive to establish an understanding of cooperation for the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC) between the parties.
The Australia India Water Centre will enable Australian and Indian partners to explore opportunities and create synergy for a longer-term collaboration in research and education between the two countries.
In particular, the parties anticipate this will include collaboration in water research, a joint Master’s level program in water futures, student and staff exchanges, workshops and conferences and provide short-term training in water sector to government agencies and other participants.
The MoU was signed for a duration of five years and the proposed activities within it are to to develop longer-term collaboration in water research, capacity building and knowledge and technology transfer, particularly focusing on water and food security, safe drinking water supplies, river health, water-energy-food nexus, water for liveable cities and other related aspects of mutual benefits to Australia and India through:
$ The development of tools and techniques to tackle future water and food security challenges including improved management of groundwater, springs, storm water and coastal reservoirs
$ Establishment of a joint Master’s level program in water resources management
$ Capacity building/training programs for government department staff, policy makers, NGOs and industry personnel
$ Promotion of transdisciplinary research and training approach in research and training/educational program
$ Promotion of water expertise of the Centre partners which expands engagement and networking internationally