Visakhapatnam to host the 25th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage from 1-8th Nov
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Water Resources Sri. Ambati Rambabu on Thursday stated that the 25th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage would be held in Visakhapatnam from 1st-8th November 2023 as a joint initiative of Union and State Governments. The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) will conduct the congress with the theme ‘Tackling Water Scarcity in Agriculture’. The Minister released a brochure on the conference at Irrigation Camp Office in Vijayawada on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, the Minister said that they have sent special invites to the President of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also invited ICID delegates from all over the world, for the 25th ICID congress to be held in Visakhapatnam this year. He said that the theme of the congress is Tackling Water Scarcity in Agriculture, where the discussions will be taking place on what sort of alternative water resources can be tapped for irrigated agriculture and on-farm techniques that can increase water productivity, evaluation of irrigation systems, limited water usage for irrigation, and various systems followed by other countries.
Terming it as one of the prestigious conferences to be held in Visakhapatnam, Sri. Ambati Rambabu said that the event will be held on a grand note, as the country is hosting this congress after almost 57 years, where over 80 countries will be taking part in it. The Minister stated that they participated in the ICID Conference at Adelaide, Australia in 2022 which was delayed due to COVID and received the ‘World Heritage Irrigation Structure’ award for Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage.
Speaking on the occasion, ICID Vice-President Dr. K.Yella Reddy said that ICID is an international organisation Head Quartered in New Delhi and conducts International Congress once every three years. He said that the 1st and 6th ICID Congresses were held in 1951 and 1966 in India, which is now hosting this global event after 57 years, in which about 500 delegates from various countries in addition to the 700 technical representatives throughout the country are expected to attend.
He said that International Awards including WatSave Awards and World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) Awards will be presented. The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), a global network of irrigation, drainage, and flood management experts, annually recognises irrigation structures of international significance. The irrigation tanks in Andhra Pradesh, Cumbum Tank in Prakasam district, Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal (popularly known as KC Canal), Porumamilla Tank (also known as Anantharaja Sagaram) in Kadapa district and Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage have received the World Heritage Irrigation Structures Awards. This year, Prakasam Barrage has been proposed for Heritage Irrigation Structures Award.
Speaking on the floods to Godavari River, Minister for Water Resources Sri. Ambati Rambabu said that the State Government has decided to restart Pattiseema Project after 4 years to supply water to Krishna Delta, as the inflows to the Godavari River have been increasing. On this regard, 5 TMC of water will be released to Nagarjuna Sagar Right canal for drinking water purposes.
Shashi Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, WRD; C. Narayana Reddy, Engineer in Chief, Irrigation; K. Yella Reddy, State Coordinator for ICID at Vizag
