Karnataka plans centre of excellence for water management, taps startups

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Karnataka plans to set up a centre of excellence to focus on conservation, management and technologies for water generation.

"In less than 25 years, India will face severe water stress. Without immediate action from both Central and state governments, the country risks a major crisis," Karnataka minister for electronics, IT-BT and rural development and panchayat raj Priyank Kharge said on October 14.

The state government is establishing a centre of excellence in water to focus on conservation, sustainable management of water resources, improving water quality, and advancing technologies for water generation, he said.

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The department of electronics, IT-BT has invited proposals from solution providers, startups, and entrepreneurs to address water and sanitation challenges in rural areas. The government is planning to host a Karnataka rural water and sanitation summit on October 29.

Kharge invited applications to address specific problems related to rural water and sanitation. The summit will feature a pitching session where selected participants can present their solutions and winners will receive a minimum funding of Rs 25 lakh.

"We are also seeking innovative solutions from startups to tackle this critical challenge through our water and sanitation summit scheduled for the end of this month," Kharge said.

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The “harnessing innovation for a water secure future” summit aims to bring together stakeholders in the water sector to address the challenges of scarcity and sanitation in rural Karnataka through innovative technological solutions.

Generating innovative ideas for water conservation and sanitation using new technologies, solving water potability issues and detecting water contamination are among the objectives of the summit. Evaluating emerging technologies for desalination, industrial water pollution, water resource and quality management, purification plants and “production of water” will also be discussed during the event. It will also explore eco-friendly sanitation technologies to reduce water usage and treat wastewater on-site.

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“Through this summit, we aim to explore cutting-edge technologies, facilitate funding and partnerships, and mobilise resources to ensure sustainable access to clean water and effective sanitation systems. We want to enhance the quality of life for rural communities in Karnataka,” the minister said.

He emphasised the importance of empowering rural communities with innovative solutions, which is vital for sustainable development.