• In a bid to sustainable river management, a Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) has been developed at IIT-BHU.

• The alliance is a unique tripartite initiative between the government of India (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation), the Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), and government of Denmark, to bring excellence in small river rejuvenation and management.

• This initiative, part of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark, aims to leverage the expertise of both nations to rejuvenate the river Varuna within 2-3 years using sustainable approaches.

• It has a robust institutional and appraisal mechanism built into it to ensure the necessary due diligence, rigor in its functioning and for ensuring excellence in river management.

• With an initial funding of Rs 16.80 crore from Ministry of Jal Shakti and an additional grant of Rs 5 crore from Denmark, the project aims to create a collaborative platform for government bodies, academic institutions and local communities to develop and implement solutions for clean river water.

• A hybrid lab model will be established at IIT-BHU, coupled with an on-field living lab at the Varuna River. 

• This model will allow for real-world testing and scaling of solutions aimed at improving river health. 

• The Indo-Danish Joint Steering Committee (JSC), the highest authority within the SLCR, will provide strategic guidance and review the project’s progress. 

• Additionally, a Project Review Committee (PRC), comprising members from the National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG), Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), IIT-BHU and Denmark’s Urban Sector Counsellor, will oversee quality control at the project level.

• The SLCR Secretariat, a joint establishment of NMCG and IIT-BHU, will handle day-to-day operations, project development and knowledge dissemination.

River Varuna

• The River Varuna is a small tributary of the Ganga River system and originates from Mailhan Lake in Phulpur  of Prayagraj district (Allahabad). 

• After flowing through a length of about 200 km it meets river Ganga just northeast of Varanasi city. In its entire stretch, it passes through districts of Prayagraj, Bhadohi and Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh. 

• The name Varanasi is derived from Varuna and Assi rivers.

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