Bengaluru: As part of the ongoing efforts to bring about a long-lasting and inclusive solution to the country's water problems, The Art of Living is hosting a conference on River Rejuvenation on 5th and 6th December at its center in Bengaluru.
Organized in association with the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), the conference assumes immense significance as it will seek to find scientific and sustainable ways to address the worst water crisis the country is facing in four decades. At least 54 percent of the sub-continent has turned into a water-stressed dust bowl with many rivers rapidly drying up. Experts opine that by 2025, the country will be facing an acute water crisis if no preventive measures are taken today.
“Water is the basis of life, and we need to protect and preserve the sources of water. This conference will vastly contribute to evolving eco-friendly methodologies for rejuvenating water bodies across India,” says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living.
The two-day conference will see leading national and global scientists, academics, stakeholders, policymakers and beneficiaries deliberate upon a roadmap for conserving existing water resources, reviving water bodies, planning for sustainable infrastructure for water, and studying the socio-economic impact of the river rejuvenation models that have worked so far.
Apart from Gurudev, the speakers at the conference will include Mr. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO; Prof Roger Falconer, School of Engineering, Cardiff University; Mr. Ashok Dalwai, Additional Secretary, Agriculture, Government of India; and Ms. Aparjita Sarangi, Joint Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of India, among others.
The conference will see sessions on thought-provoking topics such as: Status of river basin across peninsular India, Efforts made so far in rejuvenating rivers in India, Relevance of geospatial technology in river rejuvenation, Socio-economic impact assessment in Kumudavathi basin, Impact evaluation of interventions for groundwater recharge, Sustainable agriculture and livelihood post-river rejuvenation, and Role of Govt. in river rejuvenation, among others.
The Art of Living has been working to rejuvenate rivers since 2013 and is currently engaged in reviving 33 dying rivers in four states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala), benefitting 3,000 villages. The conference is expected to add a major impetus to this movement for water.
