Australia-India Water Centre inaugurated

Australia-India Water Centre (AIWC) has been inaugurated in a virtual event. This Water Centre is led by IIT Guwahati from Indian side and University of Western Sydney from the Australian side. Along with this, the centre has 21 partners from India and Australia.

Australia India Water Centre (AIWC)

• Dan Tehan, Education Minister, Australia and Jal Shakti Minister of India, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was present at the virtual inauguration of Australia-India Water Centre (AIWC).
• This Water Centre will help the Indian and Australian partners to explore opportunities and create synergy for a long-time collaboration in the field of research and education between the two countries.
• This Water Centre will help in fighting against the common water challenges and issues faced by both the countries like floods, droughts, water security, climate change, over-exploitation of water, degradation of water quality, etc.

Background

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian PM Scott Morrison gave a joint declaration in a virtual summit in June 2020 that “Water security” is a major challenge for both the countries and decided to strengthen the technical and policy cooperation to improve the management of water and sustainable development. With this view, different universities, business partners and research organisations from both the countries committed to form Australia-India Water Centre (AIWC).

MOUs signed for Australia-India Water Centre (AIWC)

The agreement signed on this occasion tries to explain the cooperation between all the parties. All the included parties will work closely for collaboration in the field of water research, student and staff exchanges, for a joint Master’s level course in water futures, workshops, short-term trainings, conferences, etc. The agreement which is signed for 5 years will bring collaboration in capacity building, technology transfer focusing on water security, river health, safe drinking water, etc.

Director of IIT Guwahati, T. G. Sitharam said water is going to play an important economic and strategic role in future. The Water Centre will focus on collaboration on different aspects related to water security.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020