India and France
are to take up collaboration in water management including water
treatment and recycling. The subject came up for discussion
at a meeting here today between the visiting French Minister
of State for Research & New Technologies, Mrs. Claudie Haignere
and the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar
Joshi. The two leaders also discussed traditional methods of
water purification as well as water conservation. Dr. Joshi
told the French Minister that the time has come to apply the
principle of "Sustainable Consumption in Water Usage "
as this precious natural resource is fast depleting.
Both the leaders
expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperation in over
150 Joint Projects. The two sides are also to sign a programme
of cooperation in Science and Technology for the period 2003-2005.
The areas to be covered are:: Environment, including water,
disaster management and climate, information technology, bio-technology
and pure science. Setting up of joint Indo-French Labs is also
envisaged.
Earlier, the
President of the National Research Council of Canada, Dr. Arthur
J. Carty also had a meeting with Dr. Joshi and expressed the
desire to enhance the level of scientific cooperation with India.
He said there are a lot of areas in which the two countries
can collaborate for mutual benefit. He suggested joint workshops
for identifying the areas of cooperation. He also told Dr. Joshi
about the Canadian intention to change immigration laws to accommodate
more migrants. He said that by 2010, Canada would require one
lakh more doctorates in various disciplines.
