–Public & Media Relations Cell
Report manpreet singh
Raipur chhattisgarh VISHESH : National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur in collaboration with UNICEF Chhattisgarh organized a One-Day Stakeholder’s Conference on Water, Energy & Climate: Vision For Chhattisgarh on 4th July 2024. The event was graced by several distinguished guests Mr. Prasanna R, Secretary of Higher Education, Govt. of C.G. as Chief Guest; Guests of Honor Mr. Mohammad Qaiser Abdul Haq, Secretary of PHED, Govt. of C.G & Mr. William Hanlon Jr, Chief UNICEF Odisha & Chhattisgarh; Special Guests Prof. (Dr.) M.K. Verma, Vice Chancellor, CSVTU Bhilai & Prof. Piyush Kant Pandey, Chief Vice Chancellor, Amity University, C.G. and Patron Prof. (Dr.) N.V. Ramana Rao, Director, NIT Raipur. The organizing secretaries for the event were Dr. Ishtiyaq Ahmad and Dr. Govardhan Bhatt from NIT Raipur, along with Ms. Sweta Patnaik and Mr. Abhishek Singh from UNICEF Chhattisgarh.
The Inaugural function began with a lamp lighting ceremony performed by dignitaries. After this Dr. Rao highlighted areas like sustainable water management, equitable water access, and renewable energy expansion, calling for collaboration with professionals to create a sustainable vision for the region. Dr. Verma emphasized the need for sustainable technology, particularly in water resource management and renewable energy. Dr. Pandey discussed Chhattisgarh’s historical role in CO2 absorption and the need for carbon capture and storage policies. Dr. Qaiser mentioned the use of over 40,000 tube wells and borewells, highlighting the shift from hand pumps to ensure water quality. He also anticipated that the workshop would yield effective solutions for the state government and community. Dr. William emphasized water quality and climate-centric planning, while mentioning programs supporting solar energy for households and solar pumps to create sustainable solutions for future generations. Dr. Prasanna noted the impact of climate change on daily life and the importance of a vision plan for sustainable development. He also suggested that a vision document for various fields, including small interventions, would be beneficial, and discussed the changing perception urging industries to collaborate for the benefit of futures generations.
In the first panel discussion session Ms. Asha Lata Gupta, PHED highlighted that Chhattisgarh has generally good water quality, except in some areas like Bastar. She noted that rapid development is causing emerging water crises and emphasized the government’s efforts to provide tap water connections to every household. Er. Jayant Kumar Bisen, Executive Engineer & Deputy Director, Data Centre, WRD, Govt. of CG stressed that clean water and sanitation are top government priorities and discussed creating a water vision document for Amrit Kaal, focusing on both supply and demand management.
In the second session on “Energy”, Prof. Shantanu Bhadra, IIM Raipur emphasized the need for careful use of limited energy resources like coal and oil, noting Chhattisgarh’s lower energy production compared to neighboring states. Er. Kapil Chandoik, Vice President, Hira Group highlighted the distinct challenges of power generation in Chhattisgarh compared to Rajasthan and called for a change in attitudes towards energy conservation.
In the last session on “Climate”, Dr. Bhumika Das,LCIT Bilaspur highlighted ongoing climate change in Chhattisgarh, attributing a significant role to deforestation. She emphasized community education to prevent forest cutting and stressed the need for youth awareness on climate change. Mr. Biraja Satapathy, WASH Officer, UNICEF noted India’s rank as the third most polluted country globally, causing rising respiratory problems. They discussed how climate change is affecting weather patterns and water bodies, leading to increased disease risks.
The main aim of the event was to strategize and promote sustainable development in water, energy, and climate sectors in Chhattisgarh.
