Pune , 22 January 2026

 

The landmark National Workshop “PreciSense-2026 – Reliable Hydrometric Data through Precise Sensing” was successfully inaugurated today by Shri V. L. Kantha Rao, IAS, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, at the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Khadakwasla.

The workshop marked a transformative step toward technology-driven water governance in India. The event was graced by distinguished Guests of Honour, Shri Naval Kishore Ram, Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation; Shri Gajendra Bawane, Commissioner, Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA); and Dr. Sanjay Belsare, Secretary, Water Resources Department (WRD), Government of Maharashtra.

The ceremony was formally inaugurated with the “Jal Kalash” by the Chief Guest and the dignitaries on the dais. In his welcome address, Dr. Prabhat Chandra, Director, CWPRS, emphasized that India’s water sector is navigating a complex landscape of increasing climate variability, where accurate, real-time data is no longer a peripheral input but central to policy formulation and infrastructure safety.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Naval Kishore Ram, Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation, highlighted the vital role institutions like CWPRS play in validating urban infrastructure projects, specifically citing the River Front Development Project in Pune. He emphasized the importance of scientific validation in gaining public trust.

Following this, Dr. Sanjay Belsare, Secretary, Water Resources Department (WRD), Government of Maharashtra, reinforced the necessity of precise measurement in water resources management. He highlighted that real-time data acquisition is the backbone of modern governance and noted that technology has become robust and cost-effective, enabling better decision-making in flood management and project implementation.

In his keynote address, Shri V. L. Kantha Rao emphasized that hydrology and hydrometric data are fundamental to resolving inter-state water disputes and long-term planning, stressing the need for absolute reliability for future generations. The Secretary called for an integrated system between Central and State agencies to ensure that data is quickly accessible to researchers and industry.

The inaugural session reached a historic milestone with the exchange of three landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of the Hon’ble Secretary.

The first MoU was signed between CWPRS and the Water Resources Department, Maharashtra, to strengthen collaboration in dam safety and the implementation of the Dam Safety Act.

The second MoU was exchanged with the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), Bengaluru, for collaboration on foundation and structural studies.

The third MoU was signed with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune, to advance collaboration in atmospheric sciences and hydrology.

During the inaugural ceremony, the technical memorandum titled “Flow Measurement, Calibration and Testing in Closed Conduits” was unveiled, along with brochures on “National Facility for Precision Hydrometric Testing, Calibration and Certification” and “CWPRS & Dam Safety Evaluation.”

The ceremony concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Reshmi K. V., Joint Director, CWPRS, who hailed the strategic agreements as marking a “new era of inter-institutional synergy that will revolutionize the accuracy, reliability, and standardization of hydrometric measurements nationwide.”

PreciSense-2026 witnessed participation from 17 National Hydrology Project State Implementing Agencies, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Central agencies such as CWC, NWIC, IMD, NDSA, DRDO, and NWA. A total of 17 exhibitors showcased contemporary sensing, monitoring, and telemetry advancements relevant to the water sector, with entrepreneurs from various private firms also in attendance.

 

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PIB Pune | Harshal Akude/Darshana Rane

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