The next steps in the India-Australia Water Science and Technology Partnership have been announced by Foreign Minister Bob Carr while visiting New Delhi for talks on regional security and economic issues.

'As part of the Australia-India Water Technology Partnership I was pleased to announce the first phase of the $12 million initiative, to commence with a pilot of an Australian modelling tool in the Brahmani and Baitarani river basin in eastern India,' Senator Carr said.

Australia will collaborate with India’s Ministry of Water Resources to pilot the SOURCE river basin modelling platform—developed by the CSIRO with State and Federal Government agencies—in the Brahmani Baitarani river basin. This river basin spans the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh (three of the poorest states in India).

In the wet season, the lower reaches of the basin are flooded, while in the dry season there is not enough water to meet the growing demand. Australia’s support will help India’s state governments to make better decisions around allocation of water resources.

Building resilient communities in the Koshi River basin

Australia will also provide assistance to people in the Koshi River Basin (which covers some of the poorest parts of India and Nepal) through our $5 million partnership with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.

The Koshi Basin was severely affected by flooding in 2008 when the river broke its banks and submerged a number of districts in India and Nepal. An estimated 3.8 million people were affected by the flooding. Australia’s support will contribute to flood warning systems and flood management in this region.

Australia has also identified training and capacity building opportunities in water resources management and will work with the Ministry of Water Resources to take these forward under the Partnership.