Digital Technologies in Water Resource Management: Government Initiatives
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Governance
Why in news
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has promoted digital technologies for water resource management, developing integrated platforms for real-time monitoring, flood forecasting, and groundwater assessment. These initiatives enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making in water governance.
Background
India faces challenges in water resource management including pollution, flood risks, and groundwater depletion. The government has launched programs like Namami Gange and established agencies like Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board to address these issues.
Key facts
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) uses digital tools like Ganga Pulse for STP monitoring, Drain Dashboard for real-time pollution tracking, and Ganga Gyan Portal (AI-enabled knowledge repository).
Ganga Zila Performance Monitoring System (GDPMS) tracks district-level performance under Namami Gange.
Project Monitoring Tool (PMT) provides real-time dashboard for project implementation in Ganga basin.
Geo-Prayag integrates satellite, LiDAR, drone, hydrological, and hydrogeological data for river basin planning.
Prayag platform unifies Ganga Pulse, PMT, GDPMS, Geo-Prayag, and CCTV-based STP monitoring for integrated river management.
Central Water Commission (CWC) operates Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS), e-PAMS for project proposals, Flood Forecasting System, and Flood Watch India app.
CWC launched C-Flood web-based flood inundation forecasting system.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) uses IoT sensors, telemetry, and GIS for real-time groundwater monitoring with Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs).
CGWB's GRASP (Groundwater Resources Assessment for Strategic Planning) manages and analyzes groundwater data.
Prelims pointers
- NMCG: National Mission for Clean Ganga
- OCEMS: Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System
- STP: Sewage Treatment Plant
- GDPMS: Ganga Zila Performance Monitoring System
- PMT: Project Monitoring Tool
- CWC: Central Water Commission
- RSMS: Reservoir Storage Monitoring System
- e-PAMS: Project Evaluation Management System
- CGWB: Central Ground Water Board
- DWLR: Digital Water Level Recorder
Mains angles
- GS2: Role of technology in governance and service delivery
- GS3: Water resource management, pollution control, and disaster management
- GS3: Application of AI, IoT, and GIS in environmental monitoring