Prague, Czech Republic, September 21, 2026: Shri H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Chief Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh, is leading a high-level Indian delegation to the Czech Republic for a five-day mission on water management, waste management and the circular economy.

The mission, being held from September 21 to 25, aims to strengthen cooperation between India and the Czech Republic in sustainable water management, wastewater treatment, recycling, resource efficiency and environmental technologies.

Addressing the inaugural session, Shri H. Rajesh Prasad highlighted the need to develop and strengthen the water economy, particularly in the Indian context. He said that water must be treated as a strategic resource and stressed the importance of conservation, efficient utilisation, wastewater treatment, reuse, recycling and sustainable governance.

The Chief Secretary emphasised the need to bring together public policy, technology, academic research and industry-led implementation to address emerging water and environmental challenges. He said international partnerships could help identify innovative solutions that are scalable and adaptable to India’s urban, industrial and agricultural requirements.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Ivo Marcin, Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, underlined the importance of international cooperation in addressing shared environmental challenges. He highlighted the need to move from conventional waste disposal towards reuse, recycling, recovery and efficient resource utilisation.

The delegation comprises representatives from public administration, policymaking, academia, research institutions and leading companies. Professors and academic representatives from IIT Ropar and Chitkara University are also participating, providing a strong research and innovation dimension to the mission.

The initiative was undertaken by Major Guneet Chaudhary, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, with the support of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in India and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.

The official programme covers Prague, Zlín and Ostrava, where the delegation will interact with Czech government authorities, companies, universities and research institutions. Discussions will focus on technology collaboration, joint research, pilot projects, institutional partnerships, investment and business-to-business engagement.

The mission is expected to facilitate practical and mutually beneficial partnerships between Indian and Czech stakeholders in water management, waste management and circular economy solutions.