The International Water Association and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board sign Memorandum of Understanding for greater collaboration in India, with a focus on capacity development in the sector towards the goal of realising water-wise cities.
Recognising the catalytic value of promoting positive change in service provision through training and education of water professionals, and encouraging knowledge development and research, IWA and CMWSSB have initiated discussions towards organising conferences, hackathons and regular workshops/lectures involving the professionals in CMWSSB and research ecosystem centred around water and sanitation.
To strengthen the institutional collaboration with IWA, CMWSSB has initiated steps towards becoming a Corporate Institutional Member of IWA, which will be facilitated by the IWA India Regional Office.
Mr. T. N. Hariharan, Managing Director of CMWSSB and Dr. T. Prabhushankar, Executive Director of CWMSSB, stated, “CMWSSB and IWA share a common objective towards the goal of realising climate resilient water-wise cities and the need for continuously building professional capacity in the Utility Boards for achieving it.
We recognise the catalytic value of promoting positive change in service provision through training and education of water professionals, and encouraging knowledge development and research. With this engagement continues to be a pioneer in the country, in this sector.”
These discussions which were led by the team from CMWSSB, Managing Director Mr. T. N. Hariharan I.A.S., Executive Director Dr. T. Prabhushankar I.A.S., and Executive Engineer Mr. M.R. Jaishankar with Prof. Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of IWA, Mr. Charles P Joseph, Head – IWA India Operations and Mr. Jeyannathann Karunanithi, IWA India Operations Manager, allowed the scoping of the nature of collaboration to include efforts to involve young engineers from CMWSSB to be engaged via Young Water Professionals Program.
The MoU signed on 9th January between IWA and CMWSSB marks a new phase in the mode of engagement of IWA with Indian Public Utilities. It is to be noted that CMWSSB is the first Indian public utility to sign a MoU with IWA that places focus on capacity development.
