Faculty Development Programme on Water and River-Sensitive Urban Development, IIT Roorkee

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Government of India

Faculty Development Programme on Water and River-Sensitive Urban Development, IIT Roorkee

February 5, 2026

About the Event

A two-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Water and River-Sensitive Urban Development (WRSUD) was organised on 5–6 February 2026 at the Continuing Education Centre, IIT Roorkee, under AMRUT capacity building and NIUA–NMCG academic collaboration. The programme aimed to strengthen academic and professional understanding of river- and water-sensitive approaches in urban planning, design, governance, and pedagogy.

The FDP brought together over 30 participants from 13 institutions, including faculty members, researchers, and practitioners from planning, architecture, engineering, environmental science, and policy domains. The programme focused on integrating river systems into urban development frameworks, promoting nature-based and blue–green infrastructure approaches, and embedding WRSUD concepts into teaching and curriculum design.

The sessions were inaugurated with remarks from NIUA and academic leadership, followed by a keynote from NMCG highlighting national priorities for river-sensitive development. Technical sessions covered the Urban River Management Plan (URMP) framework, groundwater management, climate change, water-sensitive urban planning, and nature-based solutions. Participants also engaged in group exercises, case-based discussions, and presentations to apply planning tools in real-world contexts.

A global perspective was provided through a special lecture on ecological urbanism, while sessions on flood modelling and mainstreaming water-sensitive principles into master and regional plans further strengthened applied learning. The programme concluded with a post-training assessment and discussions on integrating WRSUD principles into academia and practice.

Overall, the FDP created a collaborative platform to advance river-sensitive thinking in higher education and professional practice, reinforcing the need to reposition rivers as central to sustainable and climate-resilient urban development in India.