Ministry of Jal Shakti signs MOU with Amity University Towards “National Mission for Clean Ganga”

Ministry of Jal Shakti, (Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation) Government of India signed an MOU with Amity University, UP to extend help and work in close collaboration and sharing of expertise from time-to-time for their Mission National Mission for Clean Ganga. The objective of the MOU is to provide further education, create an awareness, and build actionable initiatives to help spread awareness on River Rejuvenation amongst Youth in general and Namami Gange Programme in particular and use the exuberance of youth to contribute to such a cause. As part of the MOU, students of B.Sc. (Environmental Sciences), M.Sc. (Environmental Sciences), M.Sc. (Environmental Health Sciences and Management), and Ph.D of Amity University shall be allowed to carry out research work pertaining to internship and dissertation at NMCG, support research, monitoring and evaluation – pre and post intervention across scientific aspects related to river and its basin.

The MoU signing Ceremony was held in New Delhi during a Namami Gange, Universities Connect Programme in the presence of Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of India, Shri G Asok Kumar, IAS, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, Ms. Archana Varma, IAS, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, Dr T G Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). More than 50 Indian Universities also signed an agreement in this Mission of Jal Andolan to Jan Andolan and Save Water.

Chief Guest on the Occasion, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of India called upon Universities to take a step forward to Create Awareness in the Youth on River Rejuvenation & Water Management by Igniting Young Minds. He also called upon Universities to include River Rejuvenation/Ganga Studies as a subject/discipline of professional levels in the curricula of schools/colleges, since water is now CRITICAL to life existence. “ there is a need to create a dialogue between Academicians, Government and Private stakeholders to dwell upon how to preserve and conserve water to create a water wise society. Management of water is the need of the hour, therefore Universities should teach the Youth, efficacy of water and also set up research centres on Water in Universities”.

Delivering the keynote Address Shri G Asok Kumar, IAS, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India called upon Universities to make youth as Water Ambassadors and involve them in ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ to ignite the minds of youth towards Water Conservation and have Respect for Water. He invited the best of the Universities present there to involve students in research, technology, data management and several other areas to work in water conservation with people’s participation as well .

Lauding the efforts of the Government, Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, stated that Amity will fully support and Cooperate in such noble initiatives of the Government and encourage students to do more research in Water conservation and preservation.

Sharing the Higher Education Perspective, Dr T G Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) laid stress on storage of rainwater and advised all to use water economically. He called upon all Technical Institutions to come together and support and work in the Government project ‘Amrit Sarovar Abhiyaan’

The programme was attended by Dr. D.K. Bandyopadhyay Chairman Amity Law School, Dr. Renu Dhupper, Joint Coordinator Amity Institute of Environmental Science , Prof. R.K. Kapur, Registrar Amity, Academicians and representatives of several Universities.