Argus News - HYDRO International 2025: NIT Rourkela Hosts Global Conclave on Hydraulics and Water Systems

Rourkela, Dec 18: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela on Thursday inaugurated the 30th edition of HYDRO International, a premier global conference on hydraulics, water resources, river systems, and coastal engineering, officials said.

Organised under the aegis of the Indian Society for Hydraulics (ISH), the three-day event brings together more than 500 participants, including 62 international experts and over 120 leading Indian researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals.

The conference aims to foster dialogue on emerging challenges in water management, climate-resilient systems, and sustainable engineering practices. The inaugural session featured Prof. Vinod Tare, Founding Head and Advisor of the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga), and Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, as special guests.

Prof. Tare emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in water management, advocating a blend of traditional wisdom and modern science. He highlighted interventions such as slowing rapid runoff, circular water flow systems, and treating rivers as “living laboratories” to position India as a global leader in sustainable water governance. Citing the Samath Ganga initiative, he underscored the importance of pollution-free tributaries and the economic potential of river rejuvenation.

Addressing the gathering, Garg outlined Odisha’s long-term water security vision for 2036 and 2047, focusing on equitable access, climate resilience, and technology-driven water governance. She highlighted initiatives such as the State Hydrology Data Centre for flood forecasting, coastal erosion mitigation, micro-irrigation expansion, and community-led water management through Pani Panchayats.

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Prof. Kishanjit Kumar Khatua, Chairman of HYDRO International 2025, noted that the conference marks three decades of ISH’s contribution to advancing water engineering research. He said the event provides a global platform for deliberations on river systems, coastal engineering, hydroinformatics, and sustainable development.

Institutions from the United States, Europe, Australia, and China are participating, alongside premier Indian institutes including IITs, NITs, NIOT, and IIEST Shibpur. The inaugural ceremony also saw the presentation of the ISH Awards 2025, including the Lifetime Achievement Award jointly conferred on Prof. Kanhu Charan Patra and Prof. Subhasish Dey.

An industry exhibition featuring leading companies such as Afcons Infrastructure, Flow-3D Hydro, and Dynasoure Concrete Treatment aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry through technology demonstrations and knowledge exchange.