The River Cities Alliance (RCA) Secretariat remains steadfast in its mission to support river cities in systematically and holistically planning interventions to rejuvenate and sustainably manage rivers within their administrative boundaries. As outlined in the Urban River Management Framework— co-developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) — citizen engagement is a core principle for ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of this mission. One of the key ways in which the RCA Secretariat is advancing this goal is by strengthening its collaboration with academic institutions across the country.
On 27th October, Dr. Uday Bhonde (Senior Programme Specialist, NIUA) delivered an online guest lecture on “The Importance of Conserving Shallow Aquifers for Urban Water Supply” at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal, for the Master’s students of Environmental Planning. The session sparked lively participation, with students gaining valuable insights into the role of shallow aquifers in enhancing urban water resilience and sustainability.