9th International Congress & Exhibition on Arsenic in the Environment Inaugurated at KIIT
The prestigious 9th International
Congress & Exhibition on Arsenic in the Environment was inaugurated today
at KIIT-DU, bringing together over 100 international delegates and 300
participants, including scientists from 50 countries.
Prof. John Cherry, Professor Emeritus of Hydrogeology at the
University of Waterloo, Canada and the chief guest, remarked on the
complexities of groundwater management. “Groundwater is one of the most
complicated elements of our environment, and the arsenic crisis results from
humanity’s own failures,” he noted, urging vigilance and innovation to address
these challenges. It is a very well organised conference with many different
scientific specialties. He said the KIIT University was an amazing creation by
Prof. Achyuta Samanta. This institute is a role model for the world and ranked
high in the world despite being relatively new.
The congress also saw Prof. Abhijit Mukherjee, Shanti Swarup
Bhatnagar awardee from IIT Kharagpur, stress the importance of water in
achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Water is
the central pillar of all SDGs, and by 2030, we aim to accomplish these
targets,” he stated.
Prof. Prosun Bhattacharya from KTH Royal Institute of
Technology, Sweden, and the Organizing Chair of the event, underscored the
global scope of the conference. “This platform allows us to address an urgent
environmental challenge and exchange diverse ideas,” he said, adding that
delegates from Sweden, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and India are actively
participating.
The Vice-Chancellor of KIIT, Prof. Saranjit Singh, added that
the congress is particularly relevant given the emerging challenges of water
contamination. Prof. Dipankar Saha, former member of the Central Ground Water
Board, highlighted India’s position as the largest extractor of groundwater,
with 250 cubic kilometers extracted annually. He warned that groundwater
contamination and depletion remain serious concerns for the country.
At the inaugural ceremony, the International Society of
Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD) conferred Honorary Lifetime
Membership upon Prof. Achyuta Samanta, the
Founder of KIIT and KISS, recognizing his contributions to education and
environmental sustainability. KIIT was also
honoured with the Green Campus Award 2024 for its outstanding green
initiatives.
In his address, Prof. Samanta highlighted the relevance of the
congress, stating, “Water contamination is a serious issue, and pollution
levels are high, yet India continues to progress. However, the burden on future
generations will be immense.”
During
the event, the Centre for Water Research and Climate Change at KIIT was
inaugurated. Speaking on the occasion, KIIT Registrar, Prof. J.R. Mohanty said
the center aligns with KIIT’s dedication to tackling issues related to water
scarcity and climate change through academic excellence, practical
applications, and collaborations with policymakers and industry.
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