In a step towards making Delhi’s water systems more efficient, transparent, and technology-driven, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airawat Research Foundation (ARF), a National AI Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Cities at IIT Kanpur, to jointly design and deploy an AI-driven urban water management model.
As part of the partnership, DJB and ARF will design AI-based and data-driven solutions to address key urban challenges such as non-revenue water reduction, predictive maintenance of infrastructure, and real-time monitoring of water and sewage treatment plants.
The collaboration will also employ Digital Twin technology to create virtual replicas of DJB’s water systems, enabling early detection of leakages, pressure drops, and system inefficiencies.
Additionally, the project aims to develop AI-enabled public grievance redressal and revenue management systems to ensure faster responses to citizen complaints, improve billing accuracy, and enhance customer satisfaction.
The initiative will also support the Water Board’s Clean Yamuna Mission through AI-assisted monitoring of wastewater discharge and pollution sources, helping reduce the flow of untreated sewage into the river.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Delhi’s Water Minister, Parvesh Verma, senior officials from the DJB, and representatives of IIT Kanpur.
The MoU is non-financial and non-binding, with both institutions committing to collaborate on research, data integration, and the deployment of advanced AI technologies to modernize and streamline Delhi’s water and wastewater management systems.
The scope of the partnership also extends to AI-assisted groundwater monitoring and recharge planning, integrating data from borewells, sensors, and satellite imagery to enable real-time tracking and sustainable management of Delhi’s aquifers.
The use of predictive analytics and smart simulations is expected to help the DJB make informed decisions on water demand, recharge zones, and long-term resource security.
Under this initiative, data privacy and ownership will remain with the DJB, and all activities will fully comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and other applicable laws.
The collaboration emphasizes transparency, accountability, and citizen-focused innovation in public service delivery.
Minister Verma said the partnership marks a decisive leap towards a data-driven, transparent, and accountable water governance system in Delhi. He expressed confidence that these tools will help detect problems before they occur, improve efficiency from supply to billing, and, most importantly, rebuild citizens’ trust in public service delivery.
He added that the goal is to make every drop count—from treating wastewater to monitoring groundwater, from reducing losses to resolving grievances—the government is committed to using technology to ensure clean, reliable, and equitable water for every household in the city.
Under this collaboration, the Chief Executive Officer, DJB, will serve as the Project Director from Delhi’s side, providing strategic oversight and coordination for all activities. A nodal officer will also be appointed to work closely with ARF’s technical team to ensure smooth implementation and regular review of the projects.