With the aim to ameliorate water woes of Bundelkhand region, the Uttar Pradesh government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel to establish the India-Israel Bundelkhand Water Project which will help in implementing the Israeli model of water management, which experts say is prudent for Bundelkhand.
The agreement was signed by Ambassador of Israel in India, Dr Ron Malka, and Agriculture Production Commissioner Alok Sinha, of the Government of Uttar Pradesh here on Thursday.
On the occasion, Dr Ron Malka said: “This is another example of the multifaceted partnership between Israel and India. Israel is keen to share its most advanced, innovative, and cutting-edge water technologies with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Water security is the top priority in our strategic water partnership with India.”
The project aims to demonstrate and implement the Israeli model for water management tailored to the water challenges of Bundelkhand region of UP.
The project comprises three key-components of the value chain: water conservation, water efficient transportation and advanced water practices for agriculture.
In recent decades, cutting-edge innovations developed in Israel to tackle water shortage have helped position it as a world leader in all aspects of water management. Israel is proud to share its expertise in water to promote water and food security around the world and especially with its precious friend India.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in 2017, Israel and India had signed two major water agreements to increase cooperation in water conservation and state water utility reform in India.
In 2019, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, had made a historic visit to Israel in the framework of the WATEC conference in order to advance cooperation in the field of water between the two countries.
This agreement is a flagship project in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries and opens a new chapter, allowing the countries to leverage strategic cooperation in the field of water.