Innovation Norway opens office in Delhi
Norway intends to deepen the relationship with India especially in the prevention of climate change and conservation of the environment, a diplomate said at the India Water Impact Summit on 14 Dec 2020.
“Our mandate to work with India is loud and clear. We are looking forward to deeper engagement,” said Karina Asbjørnsen, Second Secretary at the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi.
In a session on Sludge Management, Dr. B. Bala Bhaskar, Ambassador of India to Norway, said, “We need to take advantage of best practises of Norway in India and see how they can be adapted to local needs.”
He extended his support to National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga).
Meanwhile, Innovation Norway has opened a centre in Delhi with its head Ole Henaes expressing keen interest working in India.
Further, the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) has signed an MoU for the development of sludge management framework in India, its Research Scientist Ola Stedje informed the summit.
The MoU was signed with (cGanga) and will be a major breakthrough for both the organisations.
Highlighting peculiar problems in the country, U. P. Singh, Secretory, Jal Shakti Ministry, said, “India does not have a shortage of water but we need to improve water management and explained several initiatives in wastewater management and need to develop further business modules by cGanga Norwegian Counterpart.”
Detailed interaction between Norwegian technology companies and Indian business leaders in the water sector to explore joint projects to take advantage of Norwegian technology has been promised by NMCG Director General Rajiv Ranjan Mishra.
Stating that agriculture is one of the main activities for which water is extracted from the rivers, Mishra said, “We are working with farmers to educate them about water use efficiency.”
NMCG is also trying to promote organic farming, natural farming and zero budget farming in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, he informed.
Organic farming has been scaled up multi-fold this year with Uttarakhand having 50,000-ha under organic farming, up from 1,000-ha earlier. Likewise, Uttar Pradesh is having more than 35,000-ha integrated organic farming projects, said Mishra.
The summit also discussed “River Conservation Synchronised Agriculture”.
The effect of agricultural practises on the health of local water bodies were explained by Alka Bhargav, Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture.
“It is essential that traditional wisdom and modern science work together to have river development synchronised agriculture,” said Bhargav, briefing how the farmer’s bargaining power has increased with the formation of Farmer Producers Organisations.
Neelam Patel, Senior Adviser (agriculture), NITI Ayog, emphasized the need of informing, communicating and training farmers about agroecological practises and promoting Farmer Producers Organisations.
Also, Patel spoke about leveraging digital technologies and promoting Agri-tourism. Agri-tourism can play an instrumental role in making people especially children value farmers and their hard work.
India Water Impact 2020 is a five-day summit hosting experts and academicians from all over the world to discuss and debate issues related to water conservation, water security and river rejuvenation.
The event is co-organised by National Mission for Clean Ganga and Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies. #environment #climate #projects #technology /fiinews.com
