Environment (Water)

India is home to 18 percent of the world’s population but has only 4 percent of the world’s water resources. The country faces a severe water crisis, threatening economic growth, livelihoods, human well-being, and ecological sustainability. Wastewater pollution from industry and households further exacerbates the strain on these limited resources. The Danish partners in the project include 3Vand, led by VandCenter Syd, along with GEUS, Aarhus University, and the specialized departments of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA). These partners contribute their expertise in water management, research, and environmental regulation.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) is collaborating with the Ministry of Jal Shakti to support the Jal Jeevan Mission. This partnership focuses on improving water resource management and ensuring access to safe drinking water. Focus areas of the collaboration on national level is through study trips, webinars, and knowledge-sharing that leverage Denmark’s strong expertise in this area.

In Tamil Nadu, DEPA is working closely with local partners on critical challenges and pilot projects such as Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), groundwater mapping, and sustainable resource management. Capacity-building programs, such as training-of-trainers in energy audits and operations and maintenance (O&M), are also being implemented. The successful outcomes of these initiatives in Tamil Nadu hold the potential to be scaled up and applied at a national level through our ongoing collaboration with Jal Shakti, driving broader, long-term impact.

Currently, Phase II of the Strategic Sector Cooperation is being programmed with input from both local and national partners in India and Denmark. This new phase, expected to start in 2025 and continue until the end of 2027, aims to deepen and expand the ongoing collaboration to address India’s water challenges in a more comprehensive and sustainable manner.