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‘Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers’ (SLCR)
Context:
India and Denmark have joined forces to establish a ‘Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers’ (SLCR) in Varanasi. This collaborative effort aims to rejuvenate the Varuna River, a tributary of the Ganges, within the next 2-3 years.
More on News:
- The SLCR project is a tripartite initiative involving the Government of India, the Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), and the Government of Denmark.
- This strategic alliance is part of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark, which focuses on leveraging the expertise of both nations to address environmental challenges.
Key Highlights:
- The SLCR secretariat will receive initial funding of Rs 16.8 crore from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and an additional Rs 5 crore grant from Denmark.
- It has a robust institutional and appraisal mechanism to ensure due diligence and excellence in river management.
- Aims to create a dynamic platform for collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, and local communities.
- Establishment of a hybrid lab at IIT-BHU and an on-field living lab at the Varuna River.
- The project aims to preserve the region’s archaeological and historical heritage while also fostering economic and social development.
About Projects:
- Decision Support System (DSS): Develop a comprehensive river management plan with hydrological models, scenario generation, forecasting, and data analytics.
- The project will last 2-3 years and aims to deliver real-time monitoring, data visualisation tools, and scenario simulations.
- Characterisation of Emerging Pollutants: Identifies and quantifies contaminants using advanced techniques like chromatography and mass spectrometry.
- Duration 18 months and aims to create a fingerprint library, enhance water quality monitoring, and propose remediation strategies.
- River Interventions: Implements interventions on a selected stretch of the Varuna River, focusing on holistic planning and preserving historical heritage.
- Goals include regional economic and social development alongside river health.
- Hydrogeological Model for Recharge Sites: Enhances base flow through Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) using geophysical techniques and mathematical modelling.
- Identifies optimal recharge sites and integrates data for water resource optimisation over the next 24 months.