Empowering Practitioners for Climate Resilience: TERI and SLNA Host Training on Integrated Watershed Management in Delhi
New Delhi, April 12, 2025: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA) under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC–PMKSY 2.0), Government of Uttar Pradesh, organized a focused training programme on Climate Resilient Integrated Watershed Management in New Delhi on Saturday. The programme aimed to strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of key stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders, by equipping them with innovative tools, technologies, and participatory approaches. Aligned with the objectives of PMKSY 2.0, the training facilitated knowledge exchange and hands-on learning to advance sustainable agriculture, improve water resource efficiency, and build climate resilience at the grassroots level.
Focuses on the partnership and impact on climate and grassroots engagement
Delivering the welcome address, Mr Anshuman, Director, TERI, emphasized, “Today’s training is both timely and critical. Climate change, with its complex and cascading impacts, has fundamentally altered the way we must approach the management of our natural resources. The concept of Climate Resilient Integrated Watershed Management (CR-IWM) emphasizes strengthening ecological foundations while empowering communities by providing holistic solutions.”
In his keynote address, Dr Heera Lal, CEO, WDC-PMKSY 2.0, Parti Bhumi Vikas Vibhag, Government of Uttar Pradesh, highlighted, “We are in grave danger as our second mother -Earth, who is the embodiment of ‘Jal, Jungle, and Zameen’ – water, forest, and land is in danger.”
Mr Shawahiq Siddiqui, Advocate, Supreme Court of India & Founding Partner Indian Environment Law Organization, advocating the need for nature-based solutions, said, “Uttar Pradesh has the capability to set the benchmark by achieving the target.”
In a special address Prof Dinesh Khattar, Principal, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, said, “In the face of escalating climate variability the imperative for resilient watershed management has never been more pressing.”
The technical sessions that followed featured insights from subject matter experts across disciplines. Shri Umakant, Former Joint Secretary (Watershed Management), DoLR, said, “Uttar Pradesh has a great potential to change with the use of advanced technology, appropriate government policies and most importantly you – the farmers.”
Prof Roopinder Oberoi, Professor, University of Delhi, engaged participants through a storytelling approach, highlighting the use of gaming as an effective technique to enhance community participation.
In the concluding technical session for the day, Shri B K Labh, Vice President, Jain Irrigation, said, “Use of drip irrigation ensures around more than 90% germination as against normal conditions. Further, administering of fertilizer through drip irrigation is more beneficial with 50 to 60% less wastage as against direct application.”
The training concluded with a call for continued collaboration among institutions, knowledge partners, and local communities to scale resilient watershed management practices and contribute to national climate goals.