Second day of ICID focuses on water management challenges
The day 2 of 25th ICID Congress in Vizag sees soul-searching deliberations during 12 specialised sessions and four side events on various topics of irrigation and drainage
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Visakhapatnam: Second day of the 25th International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) focused on challenges of water resource management, irrigation, and drainage.
The ICID Congress, which was addressed by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on day-1, on Friday saw soul-searching deliberations during 12 specialised sessions and four side events on various topics of irrigation and drainage. These sessions were focused at the congress primarily to address the supply side augmentation of irrigation water and demand management.
Four side events were organised by United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Indian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (INCID) and MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Norway on special topics of global mapping of irrigation potential and needs, women and water.
The prestigious ICID congress is being hosted in India after 57 years which brought together a global congregation of around 1300 experts, researchers, and professionals which include 350 foreign delegates from 40 countries who are dedicated to addressing the challenges of water resource management, irrigation, and drainage.
Several study tours and excursion visits are also being organised to Kambalakonda Eco Park, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Simhachalam temple and Rishikonda beach for showcasing and promoting the touristic destinations, cultural and architectural heritage.
The congress was jointly inaugurated by the Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday.
While Shekhawat underscored the sustainability of water usage, Reddy in his speech had called for extensively discuss the issue of water transfer during the rainy season from one basin to another to have water preservation and sustainable use during the congress.
“It’s rare honour to play host to such an important event. Development of Andhra Pradesh with particular reference to backward North Coastal Andhra is on top our agenda,” State Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu said.
Among others, president, ICID, Chairman, Central Water Commission and Ex-officio Secretary to Government of India, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh and several dignitaries in the field of water resources management attended.
