Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : After a successful debut at COP-26, Glasgow, Scotland, the Ganga Connect exhibition was inaugurated at Cardiff, Wales, UK, on November 12, 2021. The exhibition was inaugurated at Cardiff University, by Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales and Gaitri Issar Kumar, Indian High Commissioner to the UK.
Organised jointly by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, C-Ganga, and the High Commission of India, the Ganga Connect is a global exhibition and an outreach platform which will showcase the multiple facets of the river system and connect with a range of interested partners. The Exhibition shall:
- Offer a clear and deep understanding of the size, magnitude and complexity of the Ganga river eco-system.
- Put a spotlight on a range of solutions being developed and implemented.
- Share a status update and execution timeline of the programme.
- Illustrate the deep spiritual and philosophical connect that Indians have with the river.
- Enable engagement with interested parties and the diaspora who want to get involved in the rejuvenation, restoration and conservation of the river system.
In his keynote address, Mark Drakeford said that borders are irrelevant in the climate crises and impacts cannot be mitigated by individual countries acting alone., with international collaboration being the only way forward. The High Commissioner highlighted how Indians revere the Ganges and shared the high priority which the Government of India places upon the Namami Gange mission. She further commented how Namami Gange mission brings together public policy, technology intervention, and community participation, to revive and rejuvenate River Ganga.
The First Minister and the High Commissioner were given a tour and explanation of various aspects of the Ganga rejuvenation programme by Ashok Kumar, Executive Director (Projects) NMCG and Sanmit Ahuja, Expert Member, c-Ganga.
Two strategic roundtables were organised – scientific and a business/industry roundtable were also organised. The scientific roundtable was hosted by The Water Research Institute, which is part of the Gw4 Water Alliance, the largest water focused initiative in UK comprising Universities of Cardiff, Bath, Bristol, and Exeter. Detailed presentations on a broad range of topics were made which included management of Indian river basins, biodiversity, impact of climate change on monsoon rainfall and its subsequent implication for river basin management.
In the business and industry roundtable several companies with innovative technologies and solutions participated and learnt about the Environment Technology Verification (ETV) process being run by cGanga under the aegis of NMCG to bring new innovations to market, according to a PIB release.