Tech solutions for water challenges: ‘Jal Shakti Hackathon 2025’ invites innovators

Finding cost-effective, technology-driven, and long-term solutions to India’s water challenges is the main goal of the ‘Jal Shakti Hackathon 2025’, said Dr. Y.R.S. Rao, Director of the National Institute of Hydrology. He spoke at the regional awareness seminar organized on Monday at VR Siddhartha Engineering College in Kanuru, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Department of Water Resources.

Dr. Y.R.S. Rao emphasized that water conservation is not the sole responsibility of scientists - it is a duty for everyone, from farmers to tech enthusiasts. He encouraged participants to identify water issues in their communities - both rural and urban - and submit their solutions in a concise format on the portal bharatwin.mowr.gov.in. Selected ideas will receive financial support ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹1 crore. The program will continue over the next five years. He also urged youth to focus on problems like water pollution caused by microplastics and pharmaceutical waste.

Prakhar Jain, CEO of Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), noted that while India may have limited resources compared to developed nations, technology can bridge the gap. He emphasized that student projects should go beyond academic requirements and contribute to social welfare. He suggested using drones, cameras, and other modern tools to tackle urban floods, forest conservation, and crowd management at places like the Kanakadurga Temple. Currently, RTGS hosts 38 hackathons on its website, which he encouraged youth to explore.

N. Jyothi Kumar, Regional Director of the Central Ground Water Board, highlighted the urgent need for civil engineers - who once helped the nation tackle hunger - to now focus on water management. National expert A. Varaprasad Rao stressed the importance of data-driven planning based on local water resources. Scientist Dr. S.V. Vijay Kumar said the hackathon aims to address issues like floods, droughts, and declining groundwater levels as part of the broader vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

The seminar was attended by P. Venkateswara Rao, Vice Chancellor of Siddhartha Academy, engineers and officials from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, groundwater authorities, and a large number of students.