With an aim to revitalise small rivers through cutting-edge technology and innovative practices, a Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) has been launched under the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. With an initial investment of Rs 16.80 crore from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and an additional Rs 5 crore from Denmark, the SLCR project focuses on rejuvenating the Varuna River. It aims to create a dynamic platform for collaboration among Government agencies, academic institutions, and local communities to develop and implement effective solutions for clean and sustainable river water.
This initiative, part of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark, aims to rejuvenate small rivers through innovative and sustainable approaches, the Ministry said in an official statement. A hybrid lab model will be established at IIT-BHU, coupled with an on-field living lab at the Varuna River.
This model will allow for real-world testing and scaling of solutions aimed at improving river health, the statement said.
The SLCR’s institutional framework includes a robust appraisal mechanism to ensure excellence and diligence in project execution.
The Indo-Danish Joint Steering Committee (JSC), the highest authority within the SLCR, will provide strategic guidance and review the project’s progress. Additionally, a Project Review Committee (PRC), comprising members from the National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG), Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), IIT-BHU and Denmark’s Urban Sector Counsellor, will oversee quality control at the project level.
Coordination efforts will be managed by the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (MSWG), chaired by the district magistrate of Varanasi and co-chaired by representatives from NMCG and IIT-BHU.
The Joint Steering Committee has already cleared four key projects under the SLCR initiative. Among them is the development of a Decision Support System (DSS) for water management aimed at analysing basin water dynamics through advanced hydrological models and data analytics. This project, expected to last two to three years, will facilitate real-time monitoring and scenario simulations to support holistic planning and effective water management.
Another vital project focuses on the characterisation of emerging pollutants in the Varuna River. Over the next 18 months, advanced analytical techniques will be employed to identify and quantify contaminants, creating a comprehensive fingerprint library for water quality monitoring and proposing effective remediation strategies, the statement said.
Utilising advanced geophysical techniques, the project will identify optimal recharge sites and develop a comprehensive river-aquifer flow dynamics model over the next 24 months, supporting informed decision-making and water resource optimization.
