Nagpur: The Orange City can be the winter capital of India, argued IIM-Nagpur director Bhimaraya Metri while stressing on its central location and robust connectivity with metros across the country.
Metri was delivering the keynote address during the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA) conference's at VNIT auditorium on Friday. "Nagpur is already the winter capital of Maharashtra. It is well connected by air, rail and road with all major cities. Hence, it is important to hold all important conferences such as this one in Nagpur to cut our carbon emissions," Metri said.
Metri emphasised the significance of incorporating traditional wisdom into contemporary practices, particularly in addressing climate change. "As academicians and corporate leaders, it is imperative to look towards our traditions. Though we may not have previously known the term ‘sustainability', we have practised it for generations. Unfortunately, humanity has already consumed 1.75 times the planet's natural resources, creating an imbalance," he said suggesting we must learn from the Adivasis who, despite a lack of formal education, inherently practise sustainability.
The IIM-Nagpur director pointed out that educated people, paradoxically, contribute more to environmental degradation, generating excessive waste that disrupts lifestyles. "To restore Earth's balance, we must adopt a holistic human culture for sustainable development," he said.
With rural-to-urban migration affecting resource distribution, Metri stated, "Every year, 2.5 crore people move from rural areas to cities. A city will only truly be ‘smart' when it integrates agriculture and spirituality as pillars of growth."
He also emphasised digital transformation and water resource management as essential strategies, adding, "We must learn to conserve water resources to benefit all living beings and restore the Earth's glory."
The two-day conference has been organised by IWWA in association with VNIT and CSIR-Neeri. Atul Vaidya, director, CSIR-NEERI, spoke on water's vital role in sustainable development, noting, "In case of water scarcity, survival is limited. Sustainable development is fundamentally about being environmentally, economically viable, and socially acceptable. Without water, there is no development."
He also underscored that sewage cleaning and water management require focused attention, stating, "Treating sewage alone won't ensure environmental sustainability; balance is necessary."
Nagpur: The Orange City can be the winter capital of India, argued IIM-Nagpur director Bhimaraya Metri while stressing on its central location and robust connectivity with metros across the country.
Metri was delivering the keynote address during the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA) conference's at VNIT auditorium on Friday. "Nagpur is already the winter capital of Maharashtra. It is well connected by air, rail and road with all major cities. Hence, it is important to hold all important conferences such as this one in Nagpur to cut our carbon emissions," Metri said.
Metri emphasised the significance of incorporating traditional wisdom into contemporary practices, particularly in addressing climate change. "As academicians and corporate leaders, it is imperative to look towards our traditions. Though we may not have previously known the term ‘sustainability', we have practised it for generations. Unfortunately, humanity has already consumed 1.75 times the planet's natural resources, creating an imbalance," he said suggesting we must learn from the Adivasis who, despite a lack of formal education, inherently practise sustainability.
The IIM-Nagpur director pointed out that educated people, paradoxically, contribute more to environmental degradation, generating excessive waste that disrupts lifestyles. "To restore Earth's balance, we must adopt a holistic human culture for sustainable development," he said.
With rural-to-urban migration affecting resource distribution, Metri stated, "Every year, 2.5 crore people move from rural areas to cities. A city will only truly be ‘smart' when it integrates agriculture and spirituality as pillars of growth."
He also emphasised digital transformation and water resource management as essential strategies, adding, "We must learn to conserve water resources to benefit all living beings and restore the Earth's glory."
The two-day conference has been organised by IWWA in association with VNIT and CSIR-Neeri. Atul Vaidya, director, CSIR-NEERI, spoke on water's vital role in sustainable development, noting, "In case of water scarcity, survival is limited. Sustainable development is fundamentally about being environmentally, economically viable, and socially acceptable. Without water, there is no development."
He also underscored that sewage cleaning and water management require focused attention, stating, "Treating sewage alone won't ensure environmental sustainability; balance is necessary."