IIT Roorkee Pioneers Advanced Training for Odisha 160 Engineers in Water Resource Management

Roorkee, Uttarakhand, August 22, 2024: In a significant step towards bolstering climate-resilient agriculture, IIT Roorkee and the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate-Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 8, 2023. The MoU, aimed at enhancing the skills of field engineers and officers in water resource management, was signed by Shri Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, Additional Secretary and Project Director of OIIPCRA, and Prof. Deepak Khare, Dean of Finance and Planning, BIS Chair Professor, Dept of WRD&M, IIT Roorkee. This initiative was supported by the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha, Mrs. Anu Garg, IAS.

The aim of the collaboration was to focus on equipping 160 engineers and officers from the Minor Irrigation Organization under the Department of Water Resources, Odisha, with cutting-edge knowledge in Water Resources Management, with a special emphasis on Minor Irrigation Systems.

Prof. Deepak Khare, Dean of Finance and Planning, IIT Roorkee said, "The success of this initiative showcases IIT Roorkee’s dedication to fostering expertise in water resource management. Our training programs not only enhance technical skills but also inspire innovative solutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change."

As part of this effort, IIT Roorkee's Department of Water Resources Development and Management (WRD&M), led by Prof. Khare, organized eight training programs between January 2024 and August 2024 at the Continuing Education Center, IIT Roorkee. The first course, held from January 8 to 13, 2024, was inaugurated by Prof. K.K. Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee. In these programs 160 Civil Engineers from Odisha participated in the training, gaining in-depth knowledge in various aspects of water resources management, including groundwater assessment, conjunctive use, groundwater governance, earth dam, canal design, canal lining, cross drainage works, water use efficiency, soil erosion, sedimentation, retrofitting of hydraulic structures, project management, economic risk assessment, rainwater harvesting, drought assessment, and cost-benefit analysis of irrigation projects.

In addition to foundational topics, participants were trained in advanced technologies such as Remote Sensing and GIS, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications in water resources, Decision Support System, advanced surveying techniques, and the impact of climate change on irrigation projects. Topics like carbon credits and their relevance to irrigation were also covered.

Er. Jagannath Mallik, Superintending Engineer, Minor Irrigation Organization, Odisha shared his experience and said, "The training provided by IIT Roorkee was incredibly valuable. The knowledge gained in advanced water management techniques and technologies will greatly enhance our ability to implement effective irrigation solutions and contribute to climate-resilient agriculture in Odisha."

In the Valedictory Function last batch of the course (12-17 Aug 2024), Prof. K.K. Pant was the Chief Guest and Shri Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, Additional Secretary to Govt & Project Director, OIIPCRA, Odisha, was present as Guest of Honor. Prof. Thang Raj Chelliah Head WRDM and Prof. Kaushik Ghosh, Head CEC were also present at the occasion in addition to course coordinator Prof. Deepak Khare.

The courses featured lectures from distinguished professors across multiple IIT Roorkee departments in addition to Water Resources Development & Management, including Civil Engineering, Humanities, Management, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, as well as experts from the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, and the MNIT, Jaipur.

Shri Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, Additional Secretary and Project Director of OIIPCRA said, "The collaboration with IIT Roorkee has been instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of our field engineers and officers. This initiative marks a significant stride towards climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable water resource management."

Prof. K.K. Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, stated, "This training program reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting sustainable water management and agricultural practices. By equipping engineers with advanced knowledge and skills, we are contributing to the realization of Viksit Bharat and addressing the pressing challenges of climate change."

This collaborative effort is a crucial milestone in promoting sustainable water management practices, enhancing the efficiency of irrigation systems, and empowering engineers to address the challenges of climate-resilient agriculture in Odisha.