Wednesday, February 21 – Site visit: Ganga River.
Wednesday, February 21 – Day 1: Presentations about rejuvenating a stretch of Ganga River.
Thursday, February 22 – Day 2: Breakout discussion groups.
On February 21 and 22, IC-IMPACTS, the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, and the Department of Biotechnology (Government of India) held a workshop in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
The workshop brought together Canadian and Indian researchers to develop the scope of a pilot demonstration project for the rejuvenation of River Ganga, which will create scalable solutions that can be implemented in Canada and elsewhere in India. This living laboratory is a collaboration that will demonstrate international research and solutions to effectively clean water systems, particularly in Canada and India.
The pilot demonstration project is anchored at IIT (BHU) in Varanasi and aims to bring the best and most appropriate science and technology interventions to an identified feeder site in River Ganga at Varanasi. The pilot will exemplify:
Possible Sites for the Pilot Demonstration
Map of River Ganga in Varanasi with potential sites for the pilot demonstration.
The first day of the workshop featured a visit to Ganga River. First, researchers saw the sacred river up close, getting a first-hand look at the pollution dotting the shoreline, in a Nala (tributary), and near a Varanasi ghat.
After discussing some of the challenges of restoring a stretch of the river, researchers were welcomed on board a boat that ferried them along its banks where they saw the river from a different vantage point.
On Day 1 of the workshop, researchers from Canadian and Indian universities and industries gave presentations to introduce themselves and the expertise they could contribute to different aspects of the project. They addressed anticipated goals and outcomes from joint research.
On Day 2 of the workshop, researchers from India and Canada along with representatives from industry and government formed small groups and discussed opportunities and potential research projects and initiatives related to rejuvenating Ganga River.
Day 2 of the workshop in Varanasi, with Director of IIT (BHU) (Prof. Rajeev Sangal) and other delegates from IIT (BHU), DBT and IC-IMPACTS.
