Chennai: The Government of Israel is partnering with India through the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) to establish an ‘India-Israel Center of Water Technology’ (CoWT) in Water Resources Management and Water Technologies at IIT-M.
A letter of Intent was signed at New Delhi on May 9 by Mr. Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), IIt-M Director Prof.V.Kamakoti and Mr. NaorGilon, Ambassador of Israel to India, in the presence of Mr S.Jaishankar and Mr. Eli Cohen, External Affairs Ministers of India and Israel, respectively.
Israel, a strategic partner to India, is a global leader in Integrated Water Resources Management.
A IIT-M release today said the MoHUA will collaborate with MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, to establish this new centre, which will be located at IIT-Madras.
A key objective of this new centre would be to ensure the implementation of Israel’s best technologies being practised in a tailor-made context for the Indian requirements and work on sustainable management solutions for the Indian water sector.
Speaking about this partnership between India and Israel, Dr. LiorAsaf, Water Attache, Embassy of Israel said, “The partnership with IIT-Madras is very important and with our partners in Central Government (AMRUT) and IITM, we will jointly work for better management of Water Resources of India.”
“This will be done with a focus on introduction of new state of art Israeli technology and know-how in a more sustainable manner”, he said.
This upcoming Centre will help the ‘AMRUT’ Mission of the MoHUA for achieving its overall targets. In addition, it will pursue joint activities for implementing technological solutions through separate agreements.
The CoWT will also work towards the mutual exchange of technology, scientific information, literature, and hold discussions and consultations on various issues in the area with experts from both the countries to address problems in drinking water and sewerage management and to develop new areas of intervention.
Prof.Kamakoti said“We consider this as one of our most important collaborations working on conservation and proper utilisation of Mother Nature’s greatest gift to Mankind – The Water.”
The Governments of India and Israel, through the India-Israel Center of Water Technology at IIT Madras, will also work towards enhancing cooperation in specific areas of capacity-building of Indian Water professionals at all levels, demonstrate the projects with latest
technologies and put up exhibition of Israeli water companies.
The two Governments also intend to jointly identify specific projects relating to integrated water resources management, Urban water supply and non-revenue water, water and sewage recycling, IoT solution and online monitoring, water harvesting, smart data management and AI, among other areas, with the objective of demonstrating most advanced technologies in the field.
