We Can Build A Future Where Water Is Valued, Protected, And Shared: Sridhar Babu

Hyderabad: The three-day 30th Indian Plumbing Conference, with the theme Water, the new currency, kicked off in the city today at Hitex on Thursday.

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Water is one of the most valuable natural resources on the Earth, essential to every form of life. Yet it is a limited resource that we must protect. Unfortunately, water is often taken for granted, and its importance is not always recognized. The efforts of the plumbing industry in installing and maintaining water systems help conserve this priceless resource, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the benefits of clean, safe water, said D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT E&C in his video message.  His video was played at the inaugural function.

”I commended your continuous efforts to not only lay pipes and install fixtures but to be true guardians of public health and environmental sustainability. Through your work, you contribute to the creation of a healthier, connected world. As we move forward, I urge you all to continue promoting water conservation, making every drop count and educating communities about the vital importance of saving water for the future”, the Minister added.

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We can build a future where water is valued, protected, and shared by all. Let us take collective responsibility for preserving this precious gift of nature, he added.

Harkara Venugopal Rao, Advisor to Government of Telangana (Protocol and Public Relations), the Guest of Honor inaugurated the conference along with Keynote Speaker Mr. Søren Nørrelund Kannik-Marquardsen Commercial Counsellor, Head of the Trade Council New Delhi & Regional Coordinator for South Asia, Embassy of Denmark in India

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Addressing the 300-plus gathering, Venugopal Rao said I am pleased to know that the Indian Plumbing Association has the same vision as that of the Government of Telangana. Our government attaches utmost importance to all natural resources. On the land front, several initiatives are in line to assure equitable distribution to all regions without overcrowding, which leads to over-exploitation. Likewise, to curb air pollution, our government announced three days ago a policy under which all electrical vehicles registered in the state will be given a hundred percent exemption from the tax and registration charges.

Coming to the more important and more precious natural resource water, our government has taken a very bold and proactive approach. We have put in several initiatives to protect, restore, recharge, and reclaim, and vanishing and destroying urban water bodies may appear to be anti-people, but this is not true. It is being implemented with a human touch to ensure that the poor and marginalized are rehabilitated first. Once the Musi Riverfront Beautification project progresses further, this city will reclaim its lost glory and the riverfront will become a pride of not only our past heritage but also our future quality of urban life.

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Hyderabad city, as of now has adequate water for drinking, agricultural, industrial, commercial, and other uses. But to rest on such complacency will lead us to difficult times in the future. To ensure that the city in particular and the state, in general, do not fall into a bad water situation, we are taking a holistic and three-sixty-degree approach. Protection of remaining natural water bodies, reclamation of lost lakes and ponds, pre-treatment of domestic, commercial, and industrial sewage before discharge, and augmentation of groundwater through regulating bore wells are some of the measures taken to control misuse of water and its conservation, Rao added.

Hyderabad is one of my favorite cities in India, said  Søren Nørrelund Kannik-Marquardsen delivering his keynote address. I have witnessed well-managed development and growth since my first visit in 2008. 

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Denmark as a global water leader is working closely with IPA and CII Indian Green Building Council cooperating on sustainable infrastructure.  We are deeply committed to making the global green transition a reality. It takes innovation. Expertise. Sustainable solutions. But most important: Strong partnerships. Denmark and India have much to offer each other. India’s ambitions for the future are impressive. You are determined to develop your water sector. Improve the lives of millions across the country. India does not settle for the status quo. Your nation is driven by vision. By a desire for meaningful change, he said

We have spent years and years investing in our water sector. Now, we are proud to be a global leader in this field. Today a person in Denmark uses approximately 100 litres of water each day.  About 40 years ago, that number was twice as high, he informed.

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This reduction has happened while our economy has grown. The water loss-while we transport water – is minimized to a level of just 5-7 percent. We have become experts in making wastewater a resource. For instance, to make energy. Like India, Denmark is working hard to keep improving.

Our next goal is to become the first country in the world with a water sector that is 100 percent climate and energy-neutral, Søren Nørrelund Kannik-Marquardsen shared.

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We are proud that Denmark and India have established a living lab in Varanasi, which holds the potential to bring global sustainable solutions to all the small rivers in India, he added

We come together to deliberate on one of the most pressing issues of our time: Water The New Currency. The theme of this gathering cannot be more timely or vital, as we are living in an era, where water scarcity is no longer a distant concern, but a harsh reality that affects communities, economies, and ecosystems globally, said Gurmit Singh Arora, National President of Indian Plumbing Association in his address.

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According to the United Nations by 2025, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages.  Nearly 1.7 billion people already live in river basins where water use exceeds recharge rates, leading to stress on freshwater supplies.  In India, more than 600 million people face high to extreme water stress, with millions more lacking access to clean drinking water.  As water availability becomes increasingly scarce, it is emerging as a new form of currency that defines economic stability, social equity, and geopolitical relations, he added.

Highlighting the importance of Plumbing, Gurmit Singh Arora said the plumber and the Plumbing Industry both play a major role in protecting the health of our citizens. The Plumbing Engineer is known and regarded as a Public Health Engineer.  70% of communicable diseases including Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery Leptospirosis, Ambiosis, Diarrhea, etc are all transmitted through bad-quality water.

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A double-digit number of children may be dying a day in current ongoing wars.  But the number of kids who die due to Diarrhea every day is 3,000 by consuming bad quality water, he added 

Gurmit Singh administered the following ‘I Save Water Pledge’ to all attendees in the inaugural ceremony.   “I Pledge that from today onwards I will save water and spread the message to save water to my family, friends, and neighbors.  I am a goodwill ambassador to save water. I am a champion.  We are the champions”.

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We never imagined that drinking water needs to be purchased.  But the hard reality today is that a bottle of drinking water is the most sold commodity across the country.  This conference aims to look into the future and visualize the scenario of water and the importance of plumbing, said Sanjay Bhilare, Chapter Chairman of IPA Hyderabad Chapter.

Hyderabad is one of the few water-positive cities in India, yet, we are fast losing several hundreds of urban water bodies like lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.  This conference is a wake-up call for all of us, and even if one large lake or a pond is fully restored as a result of this conference, the purpose is achieved. Sanjay concluded his address with remarks No water, no future.  

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A white paper on ‘Net Zero water in Built Environment’, produced jointly by IPA and JLL and A Guide to Good Plumbing Practices (AGGPP) in Telugu were launched on the occasion.

Subash Deshpande, a well-known Plumbing Consultant from Pune was bestowed with the honor of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his professional excellence and contribution to the progress of the industry.  Several other professionals were also honored for their professional excellence as well as Navaratna Awards were given away to nine of the most illustrious members for their excellence and contribution to the growth of the industry. 

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The conference is being organized by the 31-year-old Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), an NGO and an apex body of plumbing professionals in India.

The conference hosts engaging technical sessions and panel discussions, including Water—The New Currency; Moving Towards Net Zero Water in the Built Environment; Water—Revitalizing the Heritage; High Challenges for High-Rise Buildings; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and Water Scenario in the Hospitality Sector

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The conference features distinguished speakers, including Shri. Avinash Mishra, Chairman, Water Audit Council & Former Adviser, NITI Aayog; Dr. Rama Kant, Deputy Adviser (PHE), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Prof. Srinivas Chary, CEO, WASH Innovation Hub and Centre Director, ASCI; Shri. Stanley Samuel, Founder, Eco Soft PTE, Singapore; Shri. Nitin Bassi, Senior Program Lead, CEEW; Shri. Rahul Sachdeva, Senior Program Manager, NIUA; Shri. Goutam Reddy, Vice Chairman, RE Sustainability Ltd; Smt. Charu Thapar, Executive Director-Property and Asset Management, Asia Pacific JLL; Shri. HC Vinayaka, Vice President, Technical EHS and Sustainability, ITC; Shri. Prem Thakur, VP Technical Services, IHCL (Taj Group); Sh. Valluri Srinivas, CEO, Synergy Infra Consultants

An exhibition was also opened. It has 90-plus stalls showcasing products and services. 

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Chandra Shekhar Guptha, VP; Rahul Dhadphale, Secretary of IPA and Chapter chairs of many chapters, national executive council members participated in the inaugural function. 

The conference will conclude on Sunday. 

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