Bengaluru, Karnataka:

The National AI Summit on Water 2026, organised by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in collaboration with Elets Technomedia, concluded successfully on 27 May 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bengaluru. The summit, organised with Elets Technomedia as the Media Partner and KPMG as the Knowledge Partner, brought together leading policymakers, utility leaders, researchers, technology innovators, and industry experts to deliberate on the future of AI-powered urban water governance and intelligent utility transformation in India.

The summit served as a national platform for discussions around AI-driven water management, predictive utility operations, digital infrastructure, wastewater management, smart metering, and sustainable urban water systems. It highlighted how emerging technologies, data-driven governance, and cross-sector collaboration can help cities build more resilient, efficient, and citizen-centric water ecosystems. The event witnessed participation from senior government officials, urban local bodies, global institutions, academia, financial institutions, and leading technology companies.

The day commenced with the Inaugural and Plenary Session featuring a welcome address by Sri. Ram Prasath Manohar V, IAS, Chairman, Bengaluru Water Supply & Sewerage Board, who described the summit as a first-of-its-kind national platform dedicated exclusively to the convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the water sector. He highlighted BWSSB’s growing adoption of AI-driven technologies across predictive maintenance, leak detection, wastewater management, operational analytics, and citizen service delivery, while emphasising the utility’s vision to accelerate intelligent, future-ready water ecosystems across India.

Dr Ravi Gupta, Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of Elets Technomedia, welcomed dignitaries and delegates, stating that Bengaluru’s rapid urban expansion and climate pressures require water management systems that are more intelligent, data-driven, and citizen-centric. He noted that the next phase of governance transformation is about moving from digital systems to intelligent systems powered by AI, collaboration and responsible innovation.

Sri. Nilachal Mishra, Partner and Head of the Government & Public Services (G&PS) practice at KPMG in India, highlighted how India’s expanding water infrastructure and utility networks are generating massive volumes of operational data, and that the next phase of transformation will depend on how effectively utilities leverage AI for predictive maintenance, flood forecasting, leak detection and operational optimisation at scale.

Smt. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, highlighted the growing importance of intelligent governance systems in public infrastructure and service delivery. She stated that Karnataka has already established AI Centres of Excellence in the e-Governance and IT-BT sectors to strengthen innovation-driven governance and responsible AI adoption across the state.

Sri. Tushar Giri Nath, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, highlighted the scale and complexity of Bengaluru’s urban water ecosystem and the growing role of AI in enabling real-time decision-making and operational efficiency. He noted, “Bengaluru brings water from the Kaveri, nearly 140 km away and lifts around 450 metres, while almost 80% of it turns into sewage flowing through a complex lake system. With vast operational data already available, AI, predictive analytics, preventive maintenance, and intelligent grievance management can play a transformative role in strengthening urban water governance.”

Dr T K Sreedevi, IAS, Secretary, Department of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Government of Telangana, highlighted that Telangana has invested nearly ₹9,057 crore over the past 10–15 years in developing its urban water grid infrastructure. She noted that despite these investments, non-revenue water (NRW) levels remain above 40%, underscoring the urgent need to reduce water stress and strengthen wastewater management systems.

Sri. Bhoobalan T, IAS, Managing Director, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), highlighted how digital technologies and AI are transforming the planning, monitoring, and management of large-scale infrastructure projects. He noted that AI-enabled asset monitoring, citizen feedback systems, and data-driven financial planning are helping improve accountability, operational efficiency, and service delivery across water and urban infrastructure projects in Karnataka.

Sri. Rajesh Gowda, IAS, Managing Director, Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRIDL), emphasised that the challenge today extends beyond water supply to the efficient utilisation of treated water resources. He highlighted the importance of using treated water from reservoirs such as KRS to support nearby cities and villages, while also encouraging a shift away from highly water-intensive crops like sugarcane and paddy.

Sri. Aman Mittal, IAS, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), stated that Maharashtra is working towards transitioning from isolated water supply systems to an integrated, state-wide water data ecosystem. He noted that AI and advanced data systems will play a crucial role in enabling centralised monitoring, planning, and efficient water governance.

A major highlight of the summit was the launch of the eGov magazine titled “The Bengaluru Water Model: BWSSB Model for Urban Water Transformation“, which showcased Bengaluru’s evolving journey towards intelligent, technology-enabled and sustainable urban water governance.

The summit featured a series of high-impact sessions addressing critical themes shaping the future of water governance and utility transformation, including:

• Shaping India’s Water Sector through AI and Digital Governance
• Building India’s Digital Water Stack
• Financing & Enabling India’s Intelligent Water Ecosystem
• AI-Powered Circular Water Economy
• Transforming Utilities through AI: Real-World Solutions & Implementation Pathways

Elets Technomedia and BWSSB sincerely thank all the valued partners for their support in making the National AI Summit on Water 2026 a successful and impactful platform for advancing intelligent and sustainable water governance in India.

Special thanks are extended to the Powered By Partner iPUMPNET; Gold Partner Xylem; AI & Digital Twin Partner Bentley; Water Transmission & Utility Infrastructure Partner Indian Hume Pipe; National Building Partner L&T Construction; Agentic AI for Water Systems Partner ParyAI Solutions; Sustainability Partner WABAG; and Wastewater Innovation Partner Genex.

Elets Technomedia and BWSSB also extend its gratitude to the exhibitors and supporting partners, including Initiative, Friends Engineering Corporation, KSB, SmartTerra, FluxGen, Info Share, Purple Engineering, XR Tech, NimbleVision, Digital-Sync, AIP, SUEZ, Accord Power, Maloo Construction, Welspun Enterprises, Enviro, NJS Engineers, MEIL, Chevrox, Vishvaraj, KBR, Rajkamal Build-Tech LLP Ahmedabad, SMC Infrastructure, Sepcon Systems, Greenvironment, Canara Bank, Axis Bank, and EPE, for their valuable contributions towards fostering innovation, collaboration, and future-ready solutions for India’s urban water ecosystem.

Overall, the National AI Summit on Water 2026 reinforced India’s growing commitment to integrating intelligence, sustainability, and innovation into urban water governance, while positioning Bengaluru and BWSSB at the forefront of the country’s emerging AI-driven urban water transformation journey.

To know more about the National AI Summit on Water 2026, visit https://events.eletsonline.com/ai-water-summit/

Know more about upcoming initiatives, visit https://www.eletsonline.com/

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