The India Water Portal is an open, inclusive, web-based platform for sharing water management knowledge amongst practitioners and the general public. It aims to draw on the rich experience of water-sector experts, package their knowledge and add value to it through technology and then disseminate it to a larger audience through the internet. We see the knowledge asymmetry amongst stakeholders of the water sector as a critical factor hampering the sustainable management of our water resources. The Portal seeks to address this asymmetry by sharing best practices, advocating sustainable approaches, bringing transparency of public data and information, and by spreading awareness. The ultimate objective of the Portal is to address equity and sustainability issues in the Water Sector. Therefore, we are actively pursuing alternate outreach methods like print media, radio and workshops, to ensure this knowledge reaches those on the ground who need it most. We believe that the India Water Portal has the potential to catalyse change on a large-scale by this sharing of knowledge leading to improved practices and informed debates.
The Water Portal grew out of the felt need for a single location pulling together various resources in the area of water. This was one of the themes that came out of the First Arghyam conference held in February 2005.
The National Knowledge Commission has been a strong proponent of the idea of knowledge portals in various areas, including water. NKC has been a strong supporter in the creation of the water portal, creating regional language water portals, and working with government departments related to water. The Portal is a voluntary effort being coordinated by
Arghyam, a non-profit trust that works in the area of water. The Water Portal is created in a spirit of sharing and openness by a wide range of partners including technical water experts, research institutes, NGOs, Government departments, historians and hydrogeologists, IT specialists, educators and others.
We are keen to involve many more partners to expand the knowledge base and the reach in the water sector. If you are working in the water sector and would like to join us, please do contact us at:
Arghyam
#599, Rohini, 12th Main,
Indiranagar, HAL 2nd Stage,
BANGALORE - 560008,
Phone: +91 80 41698941
E-mail: portal@arghyam.org
Asian Water (
www.asianwater.com.my) is Asia's leading monthly publication on water and wastewater management. For 23 years, Asian Water has been an impartial, interesting and trusted source of information that Asia’s water professionals are keen to read about. Be it regional news, country focuses, technology updates, case studies, book reviews or water events, Asian Water has it all covered.
Contact:
Ms Sahana Singh,
Editor - Asian Water
Singapore
Tel: +65 68622069
Fax: +65 68626690
Website:
www.asianwater.com.my
