RHAR 2023: 3rd International Conference on ‘River Health: Assessment to Restoration Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (BHU) Varanasi Varanasi, India, October 12-14, 2023

Conference website	https://conferences.iitbhu.ac.in/rhar
Submission link	https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=rhar2023
Abstract registration deadline	September 25, 2023
Acceptance Notification	September 25, 2023
Early Bird Registration Deadline	September 25, 2023
Submission deadline	September 25, 2023
Notification for finalised speakers in the Conference	September 30, 2023
Final schedule notification	October 5, 2023
Full Paper Submission Deadline	December 25, 2023
Submission Deadline for Revised Papers	January 31, 2024
Notification of Acceptance of Full Paper for RHAR 2023 Proceeding	February 10, 2024

3^rd International Conference on River Health:  Assessment to Restoration (RHAR 2023)

Website: https://conferences.iitbhu.ac.in/rhar

Theme: Moving Towards Water Positive Regions (WPR) and Water Smart Cities (WSC)

Oct. 12-14, 2023

Organized by

Department of Civil Engineering 

Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi

with

Ministry of Jal Shakti, India

National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi

 Embassy of Finland, New Delhi

Embassy of Denmark, New Delhi

In Association with

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), New Delhi

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan(UBA)

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) Varanasi

International Associate Partners

2030 Water Resources Group, USA

IC-IMPACTS, Canada

SPRING

Indo Nordic EU Water Forum

Australia India Water Centre (AIWC)

Academic Partners

MNNIT Allahabad     BBAU Lucknow    NIT Patna    IIT Patna    Chitkara University Baddi    Manipal University Jaipur

Industrial Partner

Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)

BackGround: River Health:  Assessment to Restoration

RHAR 2019: 1^st International Conference on ‘River Health: Assessment to Restoration (RHAR)

Taking the scientific spirit and recommendations of Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) 2015 forwards, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (BHU) Varanasi thought of ‘making our rivers healthy and happy’ as its Centenary Vision in 2019. Accordingly it organized the 1^st International Conference on ‘River Health: Assessment to Restoration (RHAR)’ during Feb. 14-16, 2019. Five broad themes discussed in greater details in RHAR 2019 included: Riverine processes, Drivers of river health, River health monitoring, River health indexing, River health restoration.

RHAR 2021: 2^nd International Conference on ‘River Health: Assessment to Restoration (RHAR)

In order to bring smaller rivers on health restoration agenda, RHAR 2021 focused on “Talks of the Tributaries: Rivers Varuna and Assi in the Middle Ganga Basin”. The objective was to collect, compile and comprehend all the facts and figures related with these tributaries which are important and helpful in their health restoration. The post conference effect is that four leading academic institutions of the country in this region, IIT Kanpur, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, IIT Roorkee and BBAU Lucknow have joined hands to help and guide one of the largest working Departments of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) engaged in creating jobs and employability close to soil, water and rivers. The Government has embarked upon preparing a roadmap to rejuvenate 75 small rivers of the state in first phase with scope to increase the number subsequently.

RHAR 2023: 3^rd International Conference on ‘River Health: Assessment to Restoration (RHAR)

A deeper analysis of river health condition indicates two facts: i. due to large and unsustainable surface and ground water extractions in many parts of the river basins, there is water stressed conditions, which require source augmentation, and, ii. cities along the course of rivers put high quantitative and qualitative stress on them. For river health restoration programs to be effective and sustainable, the water stressed regions need to be developed as ‘water positive’, and urban catchments need to be modeled as ‘water smart’ centers.  Hence the theme of RHAR 2023 is “Moving towards Water Positive Regions (WPR) and Water Smart Cities (WSC)”. For more information, kindly click the below links for concept note and dimensions of RHAR 2023. 

Concept note and Dimensions of RHAR 2023 

Call for Abstracts

All abstracts and papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:

• Abstract                    
• Full Paper with Abstract 
• Abstract for Posters

Submission Guidelines

All Researchers including stakeholders and experts are cordially invited to submit the Abstract (max. 300 words, Font: Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 spacing, along with full address/affiliation) briefing the content of works on any of the topics related to thematic areas of RHAR 2023 through Easychair link. 

The Proceedings of the Conference is planned to be published with Scopus Indexed Publication Houses.

Important Dates (Deadlines)

Invitation for joining RHAR 2023                                                                 : Feb, 28, 2023

Abstract Submission deadline for Oral and Poster Presentations              : Sep. 25, 2023

Acceptance Notification                                                                                 : Sep. 25, 2023

Early Bird Registration                                                                                   : Sep. 25, 2023

Last date of registration for participation and full paper submission `       : Oct. 10, 2023

Notification for finalised speakers in the Conference                                    : Sept. 30, 2023

Final schedule notification                                                                              : Oct. 05, 2023

Date of conference                                                                                             : Oct. 12-14, 2023

List of Topics in RHAR 2023

Topics covered will include, but are not limited to:

1. Techniques and tools for identification of ‘water stressed’ and ‘water positive’ regions,
2. Methods of hydrological enrichment on catchment scales through rain water harvesting, checking ground water table depletion through groundwater recharge.
3. Water Balance Status in Urban Centers under Smart Cities Mission of India
4. Visions, Initiatives and Success examples towards Water Smart Cities
5. Case Studies of Storm Water Management, Reclaimed Water Reuse, Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)
6. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and Circular Economy
7. Techno legal dimensions for river health restoration
8. Other relevant areas of Environmental and Water Resource Management:
   1. Drinking water contaminants, Evaluation of sorbents or catalysts for removal of common contaminants
   2. Wastewater treatment, valorization, bioremediation, disinfection and reuse
   3. Risk evaluation and management of emerging contaminants (heavy metals, organic compounds, pharmaceutical pollutants, micro-plastics) in rivers
   4. River water quality monitoring, qualitative indexing, geospatial studies, modelling and control measures, hydrological factors, transport of pollutants
   5. Climate change, Environmental policies and regulations
   6. Ecological indices of river health and conceptual frameworks on world rivers
   7. Exemplary initiatives and success examples of river restoration studies
   8. Groundwater monitoring and modeling, R-A exchanges, landfill leachate effects etc.

Committees

Organizing committee

Chief Patron

Prof. Pramod Kumar Jain, Director, IIT (BHU) Varanasi

Patrons

• Ms Debashree Mukherjee, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI
• Shri G. Asok Kumar, Additional Secretary and Director General, NMCG, GoI
• Ms. D. Thara, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, GoI
• Shri Anurag Srivastava, Principal Secretary, Namami Gange & Rural Water Supply, GoUP
• Shri Hitesh Vaidya, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Delhi

Chairperson

Prof. Sashanksekhar Mandal 

Head, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (BHU) Varanasi.

Convenor

Prof. Prabhat Kumar Singh

Department of Civil Engineering

IIT (BHU), Varanasi, UP-221005

Email: psingh.civ@itbhu.ac.in

Phone: (+91) - 9958189771

Co-Conveners

Dr. Medha Jha Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, UP-221005 Email: mjha.civ@iitbhu.ac.in M: +91- 94502 77074	2. Dr. Shishir Gaur Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, UP-221005 Email: shishirg.civ@itbhu.ac.in M: +91-7877152766
3.  Dr. Victor R. Shinde Head, Climate Centre for Cities, NIUA, Delhi Email: vshinde@niua.org M: +91-9821447134	4. Shri Anshul Jain Indo-Nordic EU Water Forum (INWF) India  Email: anshul.jain@fwf.fi M: +91-9810028527

Organizing Secretary and Treasurer

Dr. Anurag Ohri                               

Department of Civil Engineering,     

IIT (BHU), Varanasi, UP-221005

Email: aohri.civ@itbhu.ac.in

M: +91- 8081765686

International Advisory Committee

• Prof. Vijay P. Singh, Texas A&M University, USA
• Prof. Nemkumar Banthia, UBC, Canada
• Prof. Herve Piegay, Lyon, France
• Prof.  Hadas Mamane, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
• Prof. Basant Maheshwari, WSU, Australia
• Prof. Kwang-Guk AN, CNU, South Korea
• Prof. Mukund S Babel, AIT, Bangkok
• Prof. Shiv Prasher, McHill University, Canada.
• Prof. Rajnish K Calay, UiT Norway’s Arctic University,
• Dr. Gyorgy Schneider, University of Pecs, Hungary, and many more...

National Advisory Committee  

• Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Ex-Director General, NMCG, Delhi
• Dr. Anitha K. Sharma, Embassy of Denmark
• Dr. Prithvish Nag, Ex-Surveyor General of India
• Dr. Dinesh Chand, Former Additional Advisor, DDWS, GoI
• Dr. Sabita Madhvi Singh, Ministry of Jal Shakti, New Delhi
• Prof. A.K. Keshari, IIT Delhi
• Prof. B.R. Chahar, IIT Delhi
• Prof. V. Tare, IIT Kanpur
• Prof. C. S. P. Ojha, IIT Roorkee
• Prof. R.D. Garg, IIT Roorkee
• Prof. Vikrant Jain, IIT Gandhinagar
• Prof. Sanjukta Patra, IIT Guwahati
• Prof. Vikash Kumar Dubey, IIT (BHU)
• Prof. Yogesh Chandra Sharma, IIT(BHU)
• Prof. Devendra Mohan, IIT (BHU)
• Prof. RS Singh, IIT (BHU)
• Dr. Ravi Jaisawal, IIT (BHU)
• Dr. Harsimran Kaur, IIT (BHU)
• Prof. A.S. Raghuvanshi, IESD, BHU
• Dr. Prashant Srivastava, IESD, BHU
• Prof. R. C. Vaishya, MNNIT, Allahabad
• Prof. Ramakar Jha, NIT Patna
• Prof. N.S. Maurya, NIT Patna
• Prof. Govind Pandey, MMMUT, Gorakhpur
• Prof. Venkatesh Dutta, BBAU, Lucknow
• Dr. V K Upadhyay, Director, Ground Water Board, Lucknow
• Dr. Manvendra Singh Chauhan, Director, RVIT, Bijnor
• Dr. Awdhesh Pratap, Water Law Expert
• Prof. Varinder S Kanwar, Chitkara University, HP
• Dr. Arun Lal Srivastava, Chitkara University, HP
• Shri Sundeep Singh Chauhan, International Advisor, Infrastructure, Jaipur
• Dr. GK Prabhu, Manipal University, Jaipur
• Er. A.N. Singh, Ex- Director, PHE & Water Supply, Govt. of AP.
• Er. Ramesh Singh, Ex- Chief Engineer, UPJN, and many more…

Registration & Fee Payment

Authors of accepted abstracts and participants need to register through the official website of RHAR 2023. The participation fee is as follows:

Registration Types	Early Bird (Till Aug. 05, 2023)*	After Aug. 05, 2023**
Indian Industry Partners/ Research Organizations	INR 10000 +18 % GST= INR 11800	INR 12900
Indian Academicians	INR 6000 +18% GST    =INR 7080	INR 7800
Indian Students	INR 2500 +18% GST    = INR 2950	INR 3250
International Industry Partners/ Research Organizations/ Academicians	US$ 300 + 18% GST= US$ 354	US$ 390
International Students	US$ 150 + 18% GST= US$ 177	US$ 195

*Registration fee includes access to all sessions of the conference, a digital copy of conference proceedings and lunch. *Registration Fee is exclusive of bank charges, if any. Such additional charges will be paid by the participant. ** Inclusive of GST/VAT.

All financial grants and sponsorship for the purpose of the Conference will be accepted only through Bank/Electronic/Wire Transfer. The details for the bank transfer is as follows

• Name of the Account Holder -Registrar, IIT (BHU), Varanasi
• Complete Address - Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India – 221005, Ph: +91 542 2307002, 2367780
• Name of the Bank -State Bank of India
• Account Number –32778803937
• AC name – IIT (BHU)-Main Account (Institute Development Fund)
• Type of Account – Current
• IFSC CODE: SBIN0011445 (Domestic delegates may use this code for NEFT Transfer)
• MICR Code: 221002036
• SWIFT Code: SBININBB125 (International delegates may use this code)
• Bank Address - State Bank of India, IT-BHU Branch, Branch code-11445, IIT(BHU) Varanasi-221005, UP, India, Ph-0542-2369181

NOTE: Once the payment is confirmed, we request you to kindly send us soft copy of the same along with your payment receipt through the email: rhar@iitbhu.ac.in. Refund Policy: Request for Registration Fee Refund in case of cancellation may not be possible under Institute Regulations.

Sponsorship

The Conference provides an excellent opportunity for sponsoring agenciesand organizations to promote their products/services to the focused international and national audience's/stake holders. This will also give an excellent opportunity to interact with engineers/scientists/academicians/managers working in the area of water conservation, wastewater treatment and reuse, smart cities mission, waste to wealth and circular economy.

Different categories of sponsorships are:

1. Platinum Sponsor: (US$ 7000 / INR 5,00,000) (Full registration for ten delegates, Company name and logo on conference brochure and web page, a full page advertisement in the Post Session Proceedings, 10 min. time slot for technical presentation in suitable session, Distribution of Literature/Brochures).
2. Golden Sponsor: (US$ 5000 / INR 4,00,000) (Full registration for seven delegates, Company name and logo on conference brochure and web page, a full page advertisement in the Post Session Proceedings, 10 min. time slot for technical presentation, distribution of literature/brochures).
3. Silver Sponsor: (US$ 3750 / INR 3, 00,000).(Full registration for five delegates, Company name and logo on conference brochure and web page, a full page advertisement in the Post Session Proceedings, 10 min. time slot for technical presentation).
4. Supporter: (US$ 2000 / INR 2,00,000)(Full registration for three delegates, Company name and logo on conference brochure and web page, Distribution of Literature/Brochures in Conference,  A half page advertisement in the Post Session Proceedings).

 Valuable Information

Queries and Communications

Prof. Prabhat Kumar Singh, Convener, RHAR 2023, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, UP- 221005; (M: +91-9958189771) Email: rhar@iitbhu.ac.in

General Queries: Mr. Abhijit Debnath, Technical Team Member, Email: abhijitdebnath.rs.civ17@iitbhu.ac.in/ M: +91-9612654872