(THE NEWSMAN OF lNDIA.COM) Bandipur, Karnataka | June 17, 2025: In a significant engagement highlighting India’s growing emphasis on technological advancement in water resource management, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources visited Bandipur, Karnataka, for a study tour on June 17, 2025. The visit was chaired by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee.

During the session, WAPCOS Limited—a leading consultancy and engineering firm under the Ministry of Jal Shakti—made a detailed presentation on its role in the ambitious SCADA implementation at the Narayanpur Left Bank Canal. The WAPCOS delegation was led by R. K. Agrawal, Chairman and Managing Director, who briefed the Committee on the technical and strategic contours of the project.

The project, hailed as the only demand-based SCADA initiative in the country, aims to revolutionize irrigation efficiency and canal operations in the region. WAPCOS has been instrumental in the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and is also conducting third-party inspections to ensure smooth and quality execution of the SCADA system.

The briefing underscored the project’s relevance in bringing modern automation to water delivery, making it responsive to real-time field demand. Such a model, if replicated across regions, could mark a transformative shift in how India manages its irrigation infrastructure—prioritizing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.

Also present were senior WAPCOS officials including Shambhu Azad, Chief Executive Director; Sanjay Sharma, Senior General Manager; and senior representatives from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (RD & GR), Government of India.

The visit concluded with an interactive session where Committee members appreciated the technological innovation and implementation strategy undertaken by WAPCOS, recognizing it as a benchmark project for future smart irrigation systems in the country.