Regional Focus: Central India

Theme: Building cross-sectoral collaborations to understand the dynamic interactions across the water-energy-food nexus

Venue: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Dates: UEI will run from 28^th February - 2^nd March 2019

This event aims to address the key scientific needs of the water resource management and supply sector in Central India. The region demonstrates a complex water nexus with high growth-rates in the industrial, agricultural, and energy sectors, as well as escalated domestic water demands. Furthermore, under a changing climate, in the last couple of decades the region has witnessed continuous warming and a decline in precipitation, (though not significant). These demands and variation in climate have a distinct impact on the regional hydrological balance. The efficient management of the water resources in the region requires accurate information on water availability in monsoon and non-monsoon seasons - including consideration of surface and groundwater supplies. The challenge for the policy makers and governmental institutions is to meet the water demands of these growing sectors in the face of changing climate in a sustainable manner, without adversely impacting the environment. This initiative aims to improve understand the hydrology and water management systems in the region; so as to help in the design of a scientifically and socially sound strategy to better monitor and manage water resource in the region.

The specific water resources management sectors which will be addressed through this initiative include:

• Water resource and supply management for agriculture
• Water resource and supply management for domestic and industrial uses
• Water resource and supply management for Energy

The stakeholder groups of focus for this event are:

• Organizations at a State/District level who are responsible for the development of water policy and the management of freshwater issues. These Stakeholders, connect policy makers with implementers and regulators; they are responsible for identification and interpretation of available scientific knowledge (hydro-climatic services), recognizing its utility and facilitate its dissemination at local level while ensuring adherence to legal and policy devices

Examples include: State environment officers, State environmental agencies, State water boards, municipalities, inter-municipal bodies, river basin authorities, regional environment development agencies, NGOs, CSR organisations, etc.

Event structure:

The UEI will take the form of a three day workshop which will communicate relevant joint India–UK scientific outputs to state level stakeholders. In addition presentations from selected stakeholders will improve understanding of how scientific outputs are used in water management and policy.

Expected outputs

Expectations of scientific researchers

• demonstrate the utility of their previous joint India–UK research in freshwater monitoring;
• represent the current capabilities of their research area more widely, conveying information about potential benefits and utility for stakeholders;
• ensure delivery of presentations in a simple and applied manner and, where possible, provide practical demonstrations of tools/equipment/findings;
• explore ideas for future coproduction of scientific outputs

Expectation from Stakeholders

• communicate current and future science and technological needs in facilitating improved water resource management and supply;
• present current use of scientific outputs in freshwater monitoring and convey their limitations;
• interact with scientists on best methods to address the above needs and explore ideas for collaboration.