Bhubaneswar: In a significant stride towards modernizing water resource governance, the State Water Informatics Centre (SWIC), under the Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar (IIT BBSR), successfully organized a technical workshop today on “Introduction of Best Practices in Data Management and Digitization for Water Resources Monitoring using Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
The workshop aimed to fortify the technical and institutional capacities of government officials, domain experts, and key stakeholders involved in water resource governance. This initiative is designed to champion the adoption of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence tools, best practices, and technological frameworks, ultimately facilitating data-driven planning, efficient monitoring, and informed decision-making across the water sector.
Anu Garg, Development Commissioner inaugurated the workshop as Chief Guest. She underscored the critical importance of technological integration and intelligent data systems in tackling the escalating challenges of water resource management. In her address, Smt. Garg stated, “We are preparing the ‘Vision document for Viksit Odisha @2036’ and ‘Viksit Bharat @2047,’ and when we look across various chapters, whether it is Women-led development, climate resilient Odisha, focusing on good governance with IT initiatives, digitization and data management has its relevance. In this context, it is important that every department goes for AI to improve their system for efficiency and transparency in work.”
Er. Krushna Chandra Mohanty, Director, SWIC, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the imperative of embracing data-driven governance models to ensure the sustainable and equitable utilization of water resources. Other distinguished dignitaries who addressed the participants during the inaugural session included Dr. C.S. Padhi, EIC, WR; Er. A. Sarangi, Director, IIWM; and Dr. B.K. Sahoo, Regional Director, CGWB.
This forward-looking initiative aligns seamlessly with the Government’s vision of leveraging advanced technologies for sustainable and integrated natural resource management. The workshop featured impactful technical sessions led by subject-matter experts, demonstrating real-world applications of AI in critical areas such as real-time water resource monitoring, predictive analytics, and digital data system development.
Officers from the State Water Informatics Centre, Odisha, and allied departments actively participated in the workshop. The event is expected to foster enhanced inter-sectoral coordination and accelerate the integration of AI-based systems into day-to-day operations. It served as a strategic platform to harmonize the State’s initiatives with National Development Goals and global best practices in Water Resource Governance. The workshop also reinforced the crucial role of the State Water Information Centre as a central knowledge hub for water-related data and its pivotal application in planning and policy formulation. This event signifies a progressive step towards the digitization and modernization of the water governance ecosystem in the state, paving the way for continued collaboration between government agencies and leading academic institutions.
During Technical Session-I, Dr. Debi Prasad Dogra, HoD, Computer Science Engineering, IIT Bhubaneswar, delivered an insightful presentation on “Introduction to AI and Data Analysis: Scope in Water Resource Management.” Concurrently, Team “Vasar” provided a comprehensive presentation on the functioning of the Odisha Water ERP “GOWATER,” a smart water governance system developed by the Department of Water Resources.
Technical Session-II saw Dr. Sandip Patnaik, from the School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Science, IIT Bhubaneswar, presenting on “Application of AI in Rainfall Prediction.” In Session-III, Dr. Ram Prasad Padhy, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Sciences, IIT Bhubaneswar, shared expertise on “Deep Learning and Best Practices for Water Resources Management,” while Dr. Meenu Ramdas Sarkar, School of Infrastructure, IIT Bhubaneswar, presented on “Water Resources Management and Digital Technology.”
The interactive workshop is anticipated to encourage all participants—including engineers, data managers, IT professionals, and planners—to integrate the acquired knowledge and collaboratively institutionalize these best practices across various departments, cementing the ongoing collaboration between SWIC and IIT Bhubaneswar.