IIT Guwahati to conduct virtual water analysis

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have paved the way for better water management policies in India. Dr. Anamika Barua, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Science, IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, used ecological economics to study the socio-political factors governing ‘Virtual Water Flow’, an emerging concept at the science-policy interface, with particular reference to India.

Virtual Water (VW) is the water involved in the production and trade of food and non-food commodities and services. It is that ‘invisible’ water that has been consumed throughout the lifecycle of the product or service.

Explaining the research, Dr. Anamika Barua said, “Virtual water flows assessment is aimed to induce sustainable use that can lead to water security.” Given the persistent challenge of water scarcity in India and the complexity of water management in the country, Dr Barua’s research helps in bridging the knowledge governance gap to mitigate water scarcity through VW flows assessment. “The integration of scientific knowledge with policies for enhancing sustainability continues to be challenging in India because of the slow-paced exchange between science and policy spheres,” said the lead researcher.

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