Seminar Organized on World Water Day in Udaipur

(Tuktak Bhanawat)

Udaipur – The Institution of Engineers India, Udaipur Local Centre, organized a seminar on World Water Day. Institution President, Engineer Purushottam Paliwal, welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of water in our lives. He emphasized the urgent need to protect glaciers, which serve as critical freshwater reservoirs supporting ecosystems and economies worldwide.

Honorary Secretary Engineer Piyush Javeria explained that glaciers store freshwater, sustaining rivers, agriculture, and biodiversity. However, global warming is causing rapid glacier retreat, threatening water security and increasing flood and drought risks. He warned that future generations might face severe consequences if immediate action is not taken.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Kshipra Sharma, Assistant Professor at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, discussed the alarming impact of rising temperatures on glacier melting, affecting the environment and economies globally. She explained that climate change leads to shifts in weather patterns over extended periods, with recent human activities being a major contributor. She highlighted that glacier retreat is disrupting groundwater contributions to river systems, affecting overall stability.

She further noted that 2020 was the hottest year on record, followed by 2016 and 2019. In January-July 2019, global temperatures exceeded the 20th-century average by 1.71°C, making 2020 the hottest in 141 years. She emphasized that reducing CO2 emissions by 45% in the next decade and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is crucial. Proposed solutions include constructing protective dams, increasing ice formation through wind-powered pumps, and prioritizing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.

Dr. Gyanadeep Choudhary, Assistant Professor at the School of Law, Bennett University, Greater Noida, spoke about glaciers’ critical role in storing 70% of the world's freshwater. Their melting weakens water security, raises sea levels, and threatens millions in coastal areas. He highlighted engineering innovations such as biodegradable reflective geotextiles and the importance of legal frameworks for environmental protection. He stressed that glacier preservation is linked to human rights and climate justice, with international laws recognizing clean water as a fundamental right. Legal accountability is increasingly holding governments and corporations responsible for climate change.

Dr. Choudhary also emphasized artificial intelligence’s role in glacier conservation, including advanced monitoring, predictive modeling, and regulatory enforcement. He advocated for legal provisions for AI-driven environmental policies to prevent regulatory challenges similar to those encountered with the internet.

The event concluded with a Holi Milan celebration, where institution members and their families enjoyed cultural performances. Eng. Premkumar Sharma, Mrs. Rajkumari Bhargava, Mrs. Anita Bhanawat, Eng. R.C. Kumawat, and Col. C.M. Dixit presented musical performances. The program was conducted by Eng. Piyush Javeria.

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