Varanasi: The secretary of Jal Shakti Ministry, VL Kantha Rao, visited the IIT-BHU here on Friday to review ongoing initiatives related to river rejuvenation and water management.During the visit, he inspected the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers, where advanced research and technological interventions aimed at improving river water quality and monitoring systems were showcased. The facility serves as a key center for innovation and applied research in sustainable river management.A team of experts, including Prof SB Dwivedi, Prof Anurag Ohri, Prof Shishir Gaur, Prof Harsimran Kaur, Prof Medha Jha, Dr Pramod Soni, Dr Anshuman Satpathy, Rahul Singh, and Prof Shreyans Kumar Jain, briefed the secretary on ongoing research, field applications, and their contribution to national missions such as the Namami Gange Programme.The interaction highlighted the role of academic institutions in supporting flagship river conservation programs through scientific and technological inputs.Rao appreciated the institute’s efforts in promoting evidence-based policy and sustainable solutions. He emphasized the need to strengthen ground-level implementation so that laboratory innovations can be effectively translated into real-world applications. He also underlined the importance of adopting advanced international practices, including technologies from Denmark, to enhance efficiency and scalability in river management initiatives.
