Water Resources Development and Management - Focus from BITS Pilani

While freshwater supply is finite, global water demand doubles every 20 years, at more than twice the rate of human population growth. Global Water Demand is roughly 69% by Agriculture (mostly irrigation), 23% by Industry and 8 % by Domestic use (household, drinking water, sanitation). Climate change and freshwater resources availability are intricately connected.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani is located in the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan which is characterized by its massive rolling sand dunes, excessive heat of the order of 50 degrees centigrade in May and June with sand temperatures rising to 70 degrees, dust storms and dust raising winds with velocities 140-150 kmph. The annual average rainfall is less than 250 mm and 90% of this rain occurs during the monsoon falling between July and September. Water is scarce but is often found at depths of 100-200 feet below ground. For the people of Rajasthan, conserving water is indeed a mission with passion.

BITS Pilani has a well established Center for Desert Development Technologies (CDDT) and Rain Water Harvesting which are in operation for the past several years. The Institute has also been collaborating with international organizations like Ben Gurion University Negev Israel's Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research (BIDR) and Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) for various aspects of water resources development and management.

The International convention on Water Resources Development and Management has been scheduled during October 23-26, 2008 at BITS Pilani Rajasthan. The convention plans to have a two day conference and a two day workshop. The technical sessions in the conference include Water Resources Development and Management, Technology Advancement as well as Socio economic aspects. The Workshop will focus on alternate water resource management schemes, optimization models, public awareness means, field visits etc.

The proposed convention will be of immense interest and benefit to academicians, researchers, NGOs, Consultants, State and Central Government Administrators from Pollution Control Boards, Power Generation - Ground Water - Irrigation - Urban Water Supply & Sewerage departments.

Several alumni of the Institute have been passionate about water. Vijay Kedia Mechanical engineer from BITS Pilani is a celebrity for pioneering rain water harvesting in Aurangabad Maharashtra. Proud to be BITSians Gyanendra Singh, SN Sanwal, Kushal Sacheti, Pradeep Bishnoi and Rajiv Gupta have been spearheading the CDDT at BITS Pilani. For more details about the convention click discovery.bits-pilani.ac.in/water_conference/

About BITS Pilani: One among the top ranking universities in India today, Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani which has the reputation of pioneering the online examinations for admissions through the pathbreaking BITSAT and setting a benchmark in industry university collaborations offers degrees in various disciplines presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa campuses and in the short future at Hyderabad campus apart from an array of work integrated learning programmes for HRD of a vast spectrum of Indian corporates. The alumni of the Institute are spread across the globe from Australia to America.


Contact:
Dr BR Natarajan
Professor & Vice President
BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA)
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS)
Vidya Vihar, Pilani (Rajasthan) 333031 India
Phone 91-1596-242210
Fax 91-1596-244183
www.bits-pilani.ac.in