3rd International Conference on

RIVER HEALTH: ASSESSMENT TO RESTORATION

(RHAR 2023)
Website: https://conferences.iitbhu.ac.in/rhar

Theme
Moving Towards Water Positive Regions (WPR) and
Water Smart Cities (WSC)

Oct. 12-14, 2023

Organized by
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi

With
The 3rd International Conference on River Health: Assessment to Restoration (RHAR 2023)
is organized by the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology
(BHU) Varanasi. The conference, scheduled for October 12-14, 2023, aims to address the
theme "Moving Towards Water Positive Regions (WPR) and Water Smart Cities (WSC)." It
focuses on restoring river health, water conservation, and developing water smart cities. The
conference also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of
ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water for all by 2030 and sustainable
cities and communities.
The background of the conference includes the previous two editions in 2019 and 2021,
which focused on the scientific spirit and recommendations of the Ganga River Basin
Management Plan. The 3rd edition addresses the water-stressed conditions in river basins and
the high quantitative and qualitative stress placed on rivers by cities. It emphasizes the need
to develop water-stressed regions as 'water positive' and urban catchments as 'water smart' to
ensure effective and sustainable river health restoration programs.
The conference also addresses the global context, including India's presidency of the G20
intergovernmental forum and the partnership of over 100 river cities across India in the River
Cities Alliance (RCA). The event will cover various dimensions and topics related to river
health, water conservation, water balance in urban centres, circular economy, water quality
monitoring, and managing emerging contaminants in rivers.
The program includes thought leader sessions, technical sessions, workshops, and excursions.
The conference features a valuable international and national advisory committee and notable
academic, government, and international organizations participants.
The conference aims to bring together experts, researchers, and stakeholders to share
experiences and successful examples in the integrated water resource management,
emphasizing the importance of sustainable water management and river health restoration.
The conference includes technical sessions, workshops, and presentations covering various
themes such as river rejuvenation, water conservation, risk evaluation and management of
emerging contaminants, and water quality monitoring. The event also features keynote
addresses from experts in the field, addressing topics related to water balance, water security,
and visions for water smart cities. The program aims to provide a platform for sharing
knowledge, discussing policy directions, and planning for better river health in India and
other countries with similar conditions. The River Health Assessment to Restoration
Conference 2023 featured keynote speakers and workshops addressing water quality,
pollution, and sustainability challenges.
DAY 1

Inaugural Season:

P1: Inaugural season of RHAR 2023 on 12th Oct 2023 (Chief Guest: Swatantra Dev Singh,
Hon. Jal Shakti Minister)
Photographs of Inaugural Season
Day 2 of the conference began with Prof. Aysha Akter's presentation on rainwater harvesting
systems in Chittagong, Bangladesh. She emphasized the challenges of rainwater quality
degradation due to surface contamination and the need for improved filtration and
purification techniques. Additionally, she discussed the use of green roof systems and bio-
retention soil in rainwater harvesting, along with the concept of managed aquifer recharge.
Prof. Aysha Akter highlighted the critical issue of rainwater quality degradation due to
surface contamination. She emphasized the need for improved filtration and purification
techniques to maintain water quality during collection and storage. She also stressed the
significance of bio-retention soil in rainwater harvesting systems, which involves using
specific soil types and vegetation to filter and purify rainwater. Additionally, she introduced
the concept of managed aquifer recharge to replenish underground aquifers with harvested
rainwater, which helps restore and maintain the health of aquifers, which is essential for
sustainable water resources. Regarding stormwater management, she discussed the innovative
use of green roof systems as rain gardens to manage stormwater runoff. She highlighted their
benefits, such as temperature regulation, urban aesthetics, and urban heat island effects
reduction. These solutions aim to address the challenges of rainwater quality conservation
and stormwater management, ensuring the sustainability of water resources.
Prof. Sandhya Babel highlighted the issue of microplastic pollution in South Asian countries,
particularly in ASEAN countries, and proposed solutions such as FTIR technology for
analysis and the DPSIR framework for managing microplastic pollution. Prof. Sandhya Babel
presents a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue of microplastic pollution in South
Asian countries. She introduces the DPSIR framework (Driving force-pressure-state-impact-
response) as a structured approach to understanding and mitigating the problem. This
framework identifies the driving forces, pressures, states, impacts, and appropriate responses
to microplastic pollution. Additionally, she advocates for using Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy (FTIR) technology to analyze the parent polymer materials of microplastics,
which can aid in understanding the sources of microplastics and developing targeted
solutions. Furthermore, she recommends conducting size analysis on different microplastics
to create customized treatment strategies effectively, addressing specific microplastic
categories. By emphasizing the need for comprehensive systems and advanced technologies,
Prof. Sandhya Babel underscores the importance of a holistic approach to protect river health
and the environment from the impacts of microplastic pollution.
The workshop on Day 2, conducted by Prof. Mukand S Babel, focused on developing the
Water Security Assessment Tool (WATSAT), a web-based digital tool to evaluate water
security in cities based on five dimensions.
Day 3 featured presentations on Smart Cities and nature-based solutions
for river health.
Prof. Meine Pieter van Dijk discussed the management concepts of Smart Cities and China's
Sponge City initiative, emphasizing the integration of technology and data-driven solutions
for urban sustainability.
Dr. Sujana Dhar presented the transformation of "ADIGANGA" due to anthropogenic
pollution and encroachment, along with nature-based solutions to restore the river's health.
Madhuri Subbarao addressed the behavioural aspects and attitude of the public towards water
resources, emphasizing the need for public awareness and education.
Prof. Venketesh Dutta highlighted the legal facilities available to protect water bodies,
advocating for restoring river rights.
Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava introduced the "Jal Swaraj" concept and emphasized the
importance of empowering local communities and a bottom-up approach to water
management.
Shri Arun Gupta stressed bureaucratic and technocratic interventions in policy application for
ecological decisions, while Dr. Avdhesh Pratap concluded the session with insights on the
River Basin Management Plan 2025, the dilemma of water being on the Union or State list,
and the recommendation for water education in schools and colleges.
Overall, the conference addressed pressing issues such as rainwater quality conservation,
microplastic pollution, water security in cities, Smart City initiatives, nature-based solutions
for river health, and the importance of legal and social aspects in river health restoration.
Photographs of the conference:

Photograph of different seasons of RHAR 2023