Lok Sabha Question No. 4815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: Research Projects on Water Quality Research
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4815

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2018

## Research Projects on Water Quality Research

## 4815. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether  United  Kingdom  and  India have launched joint research projects on 'Water  Quality  Research'  and  'Energy  Demand  Reduction  in  Built  Environment' recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether these projects aim to deliver mutual benefits and research solutions not only to UK and India but also to address shared global sustainable development goals and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)      whether  it  aims  to  equip  local  communities,  policymakers,  regulators  and businesses  with  information  and  solutions  they  need  to  secure  provision  of  clean water, rejuvenate rivers and restore ecosystem; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) & (b) Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  have  informed  that  India  and United  Kingdom  (UK)  have  launched  joint  research  projects  on  'Water  Quality Research' and 'Energy Demand Reduction in Built Environment' in February, 2018. 8 projects  to  be  supported  under  the  'Water  Quality  Research'  programme  relate  to Optical  sensor  platform  for  water  quality  monitoring,  Fate  and  management  of emerging  contaminants,  Rainwater  harvesting  and  its  impacts,  Vembanad  lake rehabilitation, Remediation of groundwater arsenic in Ganga river basin, Sensors & treatment technologies for freshwater systems, Pathways & evolution of pollutants, and Antimicrobial resistance & pollutants. Besides, 4 projects to be supported under the  'Energy  Demand  Reduction  in  the  Built  Environment'  programme  relate  to Residential  building  energy  demand  reduction,  Zero  peak  energy  building  design, Integrated urban model for built environment energy research and Community-scale energy demand reduction in India. These projects will be supported by Department of Science and Technology (DST), India in collaboration UK's Natural Environment Research  Council  (NERC),  Engineering  and  Physical  Sciences  Research  Council (EPSRC) and Social Research Council (ESRC).

(c) to (e) The  research  projects  aim  to  deliver  mutual  benefits  and  research solutions to the two countries,  and also address shared global sustainable development goals in the areas of clean water and clean energy. The Water Quality Research Programme would provide better understanding of the sources and fate of different  pollutants,  which  would  enable  development  of  appropriate  technologies and  management  strategies.  These  projects  would  also  enable  development  of effective  techniques  to  address  water  quality  issues  and  securing  the  provision  of clean water, rejuvenation of rivers and other water bodies, and should bring benefits to both people and the environment.

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