World Water Day Debate Event
The Institution of Water Engineers – Karnataka buzzed with intellectual energy on the World Water Day, the March 22, 2025, as bright minds from various colleges converged for a vibrant debate event. Students passionately engaged with critical water-related issues, showcasing impressive research and articulate viewpoints. The discussions were insightful and thought-provoking, highlighting the deep understanding and commitment of these future leaders towards sustainable water management. This engaging event truly underscored the importance of youth involvement in addressing the challenges and opportunities within the water engineering sector.
The debate encompassed a range of pertinent and technically nuanced themes:
1) Should governments subsidize water for all citizens?,
2) Is bottled water a necessity ?
3) Is rainwater harvesting a viable solution for urban water shortages?
4) Are penalties or incentives more effective in promoting water conservation?
5) Theme Topic – “Glacier Preservation” – costs of glacier preservation outweigh the environmental benefits.
On this final, complex topic, the students exhibited a remarkably sophisticated understanding that surpassed anticipated levels. Their confident delivery, the profundity of their preparatory research, nuanced intonation, and mature decorum were particularly noteworthy. The audience expressed significant appreciation for this exceptional event, a format increasingly rare in current discourse. Enthusiastic calls for the organization of similar intellectual forums echoed throughout the venue.
The panel of esteemed judges, comprising a distinguished retired Chief Engineer from Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board and a seasoned Senior Project Manager from a leading consultancy firm CDD India, meticulously evaluated the participants’ insightful contributions. Their task proved to be a demanding exercise, as the students presented sophisticated arguments and nuanced perspectives on complex water engineering challenges. The rigorous assessment underscored the high caliber of intellect and the depth of understanding demonstrated by these budding engineers, making the selection of winners a truly challenging deliberation.