City Municipal Stress On Practical, Actionable Innovation For Challenging Terrains
Srinagar: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar inaugurated RECLAIM 2026, its flagship International Conference on Water, Wastewater, and Waste Management, bringing together global researchers, policymakers, and premier institutes including multiple IITs and CSIR. Organized by the Water Resources Management Centre (WRMC) and the Department of Civil Engineering, the two-day event focused on bridging the gap between high-level research and ground-level environmental execution. A central feature was a specialized workshop tackling sewage treatment barriers unique to India’s cold, mountainous zones, drawing active engagement from Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) engineers. Through expert plenary talks, seven technical sessions, and student poster evaluations awarding top research, the conference underscored a united push to build region-specific ecological infrastructure.
Inaugurated alongside Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb (IAS), the summit underscored the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to address local environmental bottlenecks. Reinforcing this mission, SMC Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb “emphasised the importance of developing practical and sustainable approaches to water and waste management” across Kashmir’s complex geography. Director Prof. Anurag Misra and Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman echoed the initiative’s core purpose, reiterating that RECLAIM 2026 serves as a vital launcher for translating academic research into practical, sustainable solutions for challenging terrains. Conceived and coordinated by Dr. Khalid Muzamil Gani alongside Prof. A.Q. Dar and Prof. J.A. Bhat, the event concluded with a valedictory session honoring key contributors, setting a new benchmark for industry-academia partnerships in environmental engineering.
