India-Hungary Joint Working Group on Water Management

• 27 Apr 2023

On 25 April 2023, the first meeting of the India-Hungary Joint Working Group on water management was held in New Delhi.

• The meeting focused on the issue of groundwater over-exploitation in India and the need for proper water management practices.
• Six priority areas for cooperation were identified, including management of extreme phenomena, exploration and management of groundwater, rejuvenation of rivers and water bodies, mitigation of the impact of climate change on water resources, protection and preservation of the quality of water resources, and training and capacity building.
• The JWG organized a field visit for the Hungarian team to Varanasi to showcase successful interventions under the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Interior of Hungary and the then Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (presently Ministry of Jal Shakti), Govt of India, on 16th October, 2016 with the objective to strengthen technological, scientific and management capabilities of both the parties in the field of water management.
• For implementation of the objectives of MoU, the Joint Working Group (JWG) was constituted with members representing both countries.
• Cooperation in water management among countries can promote peace, security, and long-term economic growth through open discussions and collaborative action.