Bengaluru: Karnataka minister inaugurates the largest International Conference on ‘Water Loss'

Bengaluru, Feb 01: The 8th edition of the International Water Loss summit 2016 was organised and inaugurated by the State Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning, K J George , on Monday, Feb 1 at the Hotel Lalit Ashok in Bengaluru .

The event was organised by the International Water Association (IWA) along with the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA) and MM Activ Sci Tech Communications was supported by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB).

The event was aimed to make citizens aware about the importance of water conservation through proactive policies, technologies and sustainment.

Bengaluru is the first city in India to host this milestone event 'South Asian water loss conference' which is being hosted throughout the world.

The conference witnessed participation of around 100 International Speakers, more than 600 delegates from over 45 countries and over 40 companies showcasing their technology in the exhibition and came together to give India and the world a blueprint of proper tools on water loss.

Vijay Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Department of Urban Development and Chairman BWSSB, Ger Bergkamp, Executive Director of International Water Association and Dr H C Langde, President Indian Water Works Association, Dr MA Chitale,Secretary General ICID and Stockholm Water Prize Winner, were among the key guests, who graced the event.

Due to some urgent meeting, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah could not able to attend the event.

Water Loss 2016, a critical meeting of water professionals, regulators and policy makers has been designed to address the challenges to help business and water utilities tackle water loss in India.

On behalf of Chief Minister, K J George said, "The Government of Karnataka is committed to this extremely important cause of saving and replenishing water and will give all the help required for this great initiative. I am extremely happy that the Bangalore is the first city in India to host the 8th edition of the Water loss Conference. The state of Karnataka is committed to bringing down the water loss and we aim at bringing down the water loss to 30 percent from the current level of 36 percent against 48 percent of water loss."

Ger Bergkamp, Executive Director of International Water Association said, "The future of many countries including India depend on how we treat water and sustain it for the decades to come. IWA, being the largest organisation of water professionals across the world, we are extremely passionate about water and work towards reducing water loss, recycling and replenishing water resources."

However, the keynote was delivered by Dr MA Chitale, Secretary General, ICID; TM Vijay Bhaskar, IAS, Additional Secretary to Government, Urban Development and Chairman, BWSSB, Government of Karnataka and Professor Zoran Kapelan, Water Systems Engineering, University of Exeter.

The event also witnessed the introduction of the ‘Dreampipe Challenge', a major UK government-funded innovation prize, by Chris Shugart, Prize Manager.

Funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by IMC Worldwide, the prize is aimed at innovation to stem the amount of water lost in developing countries through leakage, meter inaccuracies and unauthorised use.

The winners of the contest will be awarded with 5 prizes of GBP 10,000 each in its first stage, followed by 3 prizes of average GBP 400, 000 each in the second stage.

The participants are expected to come up with innovative concepts of financing mechanism that can enable water utility companies in developing countries or their service providers to undertake the investments needed for the companies for their non-revenue water reduction program.

Later, on being asked about the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karanataka, KJ George exclusively told OneIndia that "all matters are already being solved by the Karnataka government."

OneIndia News