Science-Society-Setu webinar series initiated to strengthen S&T capacity, Formation of State Water Grid in Maharashtra to overcome flood crisis in the State
Science-Society-Setu webinar series initiated to strengthen S&T capacity
- DST Secretary Prof. Ashutosh Sharma underlined the need to create knowledge that is relevant for different sections of our society at the Science-Society-Setu for AatmaNirbharBharat (S34ANB), a web clinic series by Science for Equity Empowerment and Development SEED Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- We must have a clear picture about what knowledge we are producing, the relevance of that knowledge, where the creators and takers of that knowledge would come from, the efforts to be made so that this knowledge is consumed and the way through which it will reach the society to empower it.
- The discussions under web clinic to reach the unreached through ‘vocal for local approach’ to strengthen the social infrastructure and technology-driven pillars of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ has been organized by DST in partnership with the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor, India Science Technology & Innovation Portal, WWF-India, AGNi, FICCI and HESCO.
- They will cover four broad sectors, namely: ‘agriculture and allied sectors, MSME & economic sector, social infrastructure, and cross-sectoral areas.
- The role of NGOs as a part of the pipeline with the purpose of disseminating this knowledge and empowering the different sections of the society.
- In order to have a free flow of knowledge, we must have the last mile connects besides creating new small business opportunities, social entrepreneurship, and empowering the self-help groups.
- The knowledge ecosystem consists of two parts: invention or knowledge creation and innovation or transforming knowledge into new socio-economic opportunities.
- For a sustainable knowledge ecosystem it is required these two components flow together creating more master trainers, advancing S& T capacity of NGO’s and communities to make the society more self-reliant.
- Aatmanirbharta as an entire pipeline of knowledge chain to bring the right solutions to people’s problems.
- It consists of Aatmavishwas, or self-confidence among people, Aatmasammana to reach out to the last person in the society irrespective of cultural differences which can be carried out by the NGOs and SHGs working on the ground and Aatmachintan that will be done through this web clinic in the course of its series.
- Startups and industries will soon have access to equipment and S&T infrastructure in different institutions, universities, and colleges spread all over the country to carry out experiments and tests they require for their R&D, technology, and product development.
- DST is restructuring its FIST (Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational institutions) programme under which it supports scaling up ofthe network of infrastructural facilities for teaching and research in Universities and higher educational institutions to cater to high-end S&T infrastructural requirements of startups and industries.
- The immensely successful FIST programme will now be reinvented to FIST 2.0 to orient it towards the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat so as to create R&D infrastructure not only for experimental work but also to cater to theoretical work, ideas and entrepreneurship.
- It will also link up programmes like FIST, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF), and Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI), all of which are designed to set up S&T infrastructure centres at different levels –department, university, regional and national level respectively.
- At present, while on an average of about 8,500 researchers use these facilities spread in centres all over India, industries, and startups involved in R&D, technology, and product development have to carry out most high-end experiments and testing of technologies from laboratories outside India.
- This is because they prefer not to buy equipment and infrastructure which are of limited usage to them, and they cannot access most of the high-end S&T infrastructure set up in the universities and institutions.
- Till 2019, about 2910 S&T departments and PG colleges have been supported with a total investment of about Rs 2970 crores under FIST.
- In SAIF, 15 centres have been funded while SATHI has three centres running and more be supported under the R& D infrastructure division.
- The S&T infrastructure network would now reach out to more beneficiaries and focus on alignment with some of the National Missions and Sustainable Development Goals as well as towards technology translational research promoting different start-ups and industries.
- The restructuring would also entail a shift from discipline (tool-centric) based research to interdisciplinary problem solution-centric research.
- This would not only encourage Indian-origin researchers in academic institutes and research organizations across the world and resident counterparts to explore collaborative joint ventures to strengthen the S&T base in India for global development but would also enrol industry in R&D endeavor to bring about direct benefits for the society.
Formation of State Water Grid in Maharashtra to overcome flood crisis in the State
- Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari has requested the Maharashtra Government to take initiative for preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for formation of the State Water Grid to overcome the recurring flood crisis in the State.
- This would help the government to ensure the availability of the water in drought prone areas and save the resources to manage the flood crisis.
- The serious issue of heavy loss of lives and property that occur in the state of Maharashtra every year due to floods that the floods create and trigger serious problems in different parts of the state and there is an urgent need to chalk out a plan to manage this natural disaster that becomes grave because of other man made factors.
- The Union Minister has suggested to the Government of Maharashtra to take up the ambitious project of formation of the State Water Grid on the lines of the National Power Grid and Highway Grid.
- The idea is to divert the flood water from one river basin to the other river basin in the drought prone area of the state.
- The areas with shortage of the water, scanty rainfall can get relief by the Grid.
- This would help to increase the area under irrigation, while bringing significant reduction in the numbers of suicides of farmers.
- The letter goes on to say that various studies have shown that the incidents of the farmers’ suicide have come down in the areas where the irrigation cover is more that 55%.
- This would also help to increase agriculture produce and strengthen the rural and national economy.
- The diverted flood waters would relieve the stress on the local resources.
- Transportation of goods and passengers through rivers (Water Transport) can be commenced in near future.
- Fishing and other businesses can flourish alongside and major employment can be generated if such project is taken up as an essential infrastructure.
- This synchronization of N.H. construction and water conservation results not only in increasing water storage capacity but saving environment.
- Initially this activity was done on large scale in Buldhana district as pilot project and hence named as ‘Buldhana pattern’.
- With this activity in Maharashtra, around 225 lakh cubic meter of material from water bodies, drains and rivers has been used in Highway works with a result of increase of 22500 TCM (Thousand Cubic Meter) of water storage capacity at `No cost to State Government’.
- This has charged ground water table.
- Due to deepening and training of river, drains, etc, the floods have reduced, which otherwise spreads in nearby field due to reduced discharge capacity of rivers and drains.
- This convergence has been appreciated and accepted by NITI Aayog, which is in the process of forming policy based on this work done.
- The Minister further informed that the Tamaswada Pattern adopted in Wardha and Nagpur districts is another effort towards Rain Water Harvesting, Conservation and Ground Water Recharge.
- These works are done on the basis of Scientific and Complete Development of Mini-Micro Watersheds based on study of HydroGeology, Topography and Civil Engineering.
- Work is done essentially in the direction from Ridge to Valley.
- Tamaswada Pattern is most helpful to create augmented Surface rain and Ground Water storages.
- It creates Flood free as well as Drought free situation in treated Watershed.
- These type of works are resulting in Preservation and Conservation of Traditional natural water bodies.
