Srinagar, Sep 1, KDC: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar hosted RECLAIM 2026, the first International Conference on Water, Wastewater and Waste Management, bringing together researchers, academicians, policymakers and industry experts from across India and abroad to deliberate on emerging challenges in water resource management, wastewater treatment and sustainable waste management.
Organised by the Water Resources Management Centre (WRMC), and Department of Civil Engineering NIT Srinagar, the two-day conference featured participation from premier institutions including IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Hyderabad and CSIR, besides delegates and researchers from different parts of the country and overseas.
The conference commenced with an inaugural session attended by Faz Lul Haseeb, IAS, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and CEO, Srinagar Smart City Limited, along with senior faculty members from WRMC and the Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Srinagar.
Speaking on the occasion, Faz Lul Haseeb emphasized the importance of developing practical and sustainable approaches to waste management, particularly in a region like Jammu and Kashmir where difficult terrain and climatic conditions pose additional challenges.
He stressed the need for stronger coordination between academic institutions, government agencies and industry to translate research into solutions that can be implemented on the ground.
In his message, Director NIT Srinagar Prof. Anurag Misra said RECLAIM 2026 reflects the Institute’s commitment to research and innovation in addressing critical environmental challenges. He emphasized stronger collaboration among academia, government and industry to develop practical and sustainable solutions for water and waste management.
Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman said the conference provided an important platform for researchers, students and industry experts to exchange ideas and strengthen academia-industry collaboration, with a focus on translating research into practical solutions.
A distinguished plenary session was held during the conference, featuring talks by experts in environmental engineering and water resources engineering. This was followed by seven technical sessions spread across the two days, where researchers presented their original work covering water treatment technologies, wastewater management, solid waste management and allied areas of environmental engineering.
RECLAIM 2026 was conceived, organised and coordinated by Dr Khalid Muzamil Gani, Organising Secretary, with guidance and support from Prof. A.Q. Dar, Chairman, Water Resources Management Centre, and Prof J A Bhat Department of Civil Engineering NIT Srinagar.
One of the major highlights of RECLAIM 2026 was a dedicated workshop on “Challenges and Solutions for Efficient Sewage Treatment in Hilly and Cold Regions of India.”
The workshop examined the specific difficulties associated with sewage treatment in mountainous and cold climatic conditions, which can affect treatment efficiency and the operation of wastewater infrastructure.
The workshop also witnessed participation from engineers of the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED), Jammu and Kashmir, who joined both physically and through online participation from different locations. Organisers said the participation reflected the conference’s emphasis on strengthening industry-academia collaboration and developing solutions suited to the region’s geographical and climatic conditions.
The conference also provided a platform for young researchers and students through a dedicated poster session. Research work presented by scholars and students was evaluated, with outstanding contributions recognised through Best Paper Presentation Awards and Best Poster Presentation Awards.
The event concluded with a valedictory session featuring a special address and a formal vote of thanks to the organising committee, session chairs, volunteers, sponsors and participating delegates. (KDC)
