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DHARA 2023

Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers

r. Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat, the Union
MMinister for Jal Shakti
on 13th february presided over
the opening session of DHARA
2023 (Driving Holistic Action
for Urban Rivers) organised by
National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG) and National Institute
of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in Pune.
DHARA 2023 is the annual meeting
of the members of the River Cities
Alliance (RCA) and provides
a platform for senior officials
including Commissioners, Addl.
Commissioners, Chief Engineers
and Senior Planners of over 100
member-cities in India to co-learn
and discuss solutions for managing
local water resources.
Mr. G. Asok Kumar, Director
General, NMCG, Mr. Vikram
Kumar, Municipal Commissioner,
Pune, Mr. Hitesh Vaidya, Director,
NIUA were also present on the
occasion. The opening session
also witnessed the launch of
Urban River Management Plan for our future generation will bear the Mr. Shekhawat said that the country
Ayodhya and Aurangabad and ‘75 brunt of water scarcity. is going through a crucial time
River Initiatives’ – a Compendium. He expressed his happiness on and has completed the 75 years of
The Hon’ble Minister inaugurated the fact that over 40 Municipal independence. He also said that
DHARA 2023 by unifying the water Commissioners were present at technologically-driven change that
collected from 52 participating the event and reflected on the has been witnessed in the past
cities in a Jal Kalash. It is a unique importance of de-centralized few decades make it all the more
manifestation of Jal Shakti through planning in effectively managing important for all of us to collectively
Jal Sangam, embodying the concept water resources. “The planning can work in the direction of making
of a unified DHARA. a ‘Viksit Bharat’ as envisioned by
best be done at the level of the local our Hon’ble Prime Minister. “The
Addressing the gathering, Mr. self-bodies and that is the reason why world is looking at us because of
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said their presence here is of immense our growth, especially since India
that rivers are synonymous with importance,” adding, “Through the has been handed over the G20
civilizations and after several local bodies we can directly connect presidency,” he said, adding, “During
decades of using our rivers for with the people, which is absolutely an event in Bhopal – Vision@2047-
survival, we must reflect on what we essential for the success of any it was emphasized by me that we
have given the rivers back, otherwise programme concerning water.” have accepted the challenge of

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