A high-level review meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil was held on 09 July, 2025 in New Delhi to assess the role of technology and innovation in river rejuvenation under the Namami Gange programme.

The meeting emphasised the integration of scientific tools for the sustainable management of India’s rivers, with special focus on small river systems. The Minister praised the collaborative and research-led initiatives by institutions such as IIT (BHU) and IIT Delhi. He urged stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of technology-driven solutions and ensure their replication across other critical river systems to meet the national objective of “Aviral aur Nirmal Ganga.”

Key innovations discussed included the Small Rivers Management Tool (SRMT), a decision support system (DSS) developed for the Varuna River, with scalable capabilities for other catchments. It features modules for population forecasting, water demand and supply analysis, sewage load assessment, and STP prioritisation.

Highlights also included managed aquifer recharge (MAR) using real-time hydrogeological modelling, and two major projects—Hydrogeological Modeling in Varuna Basin and Fingerprint Analysis of Emerging Pollutants in the Ganga Basin. IIT Delhi presented plans for a Centre of Excellence under IND-RIVERS, focusing on AI, digital twins, and pollution treatment innovations.