India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership Launches Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers in Varanasi

New Delhi: The Green Strategic Partnership between the Governments of India and Denmark has led to the establishment of the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) in Varanasi. This innovative initiative, a collaboration between the Indian Government’s Department of Water Resources, the Indian Institute of Technology – Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), and the Danish Government, aims to rejuvenate small rivers using sustainable and cutting-edge solutions.

The SLCR is focused on reviving the Varuna River through collaborative efforts that bring together government agencies, academic institutions, and local communities. It operates on a hybrid model, featuring both a laboratory at IIT-BHU and an on-field living lab along the Varuna River to test and scale solutions in real-world conditions. This initiative is structured with a rigorous institutional and appraisal mechanism to ensure excellence in river management practices.

The highest forum for SLCR oversight is the Indo-Danish Joint Steering Committee (JSC), which provides strategic guidance and reviews the project’s progress. The Project Review Committee (PRC), comprised of members from the National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG), Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), IIT-BHU, and Denmark’s Urban Sector Counsellor, ensures quality control at the project level. Additionally, the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (MSWG), chaired by the District Magistrate and co-chaired by NMCG and IIT-BHU, coordinates efforts between central and state agencies. The day-to-day operations of the SLCR will be managed by a Secretariat established between NMCG and IIT-BHU.

The SLCR is backed by an initial funding of ₹16.80 crore from India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, with an additional ₹5 crore grant from Denmark. This financial support ensures the long-term sustainability and development of the project.

Four key projects have been cleared by the Joint Steering Committee to be taken up under this collaboration. The first project will develop a Decision Support System (DSS) for water management, utilizing hydrological models, data analytics, and scenario simulations. This system will provide real-time monitoring and a comprehensive river management plan, aiming to improve water management through informed, data-driven decisions.

The second project will focus on the characterization of emerging pollutants in the Varuna River, employing advanced techniques like chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify contaminants. Led by a professor from the University of Copenhagen, this 18-month project will build a detailed fingerprint library of pollutants and offer recommendations for water quality improvement and remediation.

A selected stretch of the Varuna River will serve as a demonstration site for the third project, where sustainable interventions will be implemented based on the SLCR’s holistic vision. These efforts will include the preservation of the river’s archaeological and historical heritage, with a goal of enhancing regional economic and social development while ensuring the river’s long-term health.

The fourth project will involve creating a Hydrogeological Model of the Varuna Basin to support Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR). Over 24 months, this initiative will use geophysical techniques and mathematical modeling to identify optimal recharge sites, contributing to improved water harvesting and flow management in the basin.