Overseas training under water quality monitoring programme of Indian Yamuna Action

The Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganges and one of the dirtiest rivers worldwide. The Indian government has an ambitious programme to improve the quality of this river by setting up a Yamuna Action Plan Phase II (YAPII). The excursion was developed for senior government officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the National River Conservation Directorate involved in the implementation of the YAP II to visit and explore successful approaches adopted that monitor and assess water quality in order to protect or restore water resources.

The basic objective of the training programme, integrated in a study tour, was to enable government officials to contribute more effectively to the water quality monitoring programme of YAP-II. The main topics discussed included: integrated water resource management for the river basin; institutional and policy strengthening for river basin management; water quality monitoring and modelling as well as pollution management strategies for river basins. The training programme fostered dialogue amongst the various experts and discussions resulted in improved approaches to implementation of river basin management plans.