The 23rd Water Resources Day on the focal theme "Integrated Water Resources Development and Management' was organised on Friday last in a befitting manner by the Assam State Centre of the Institution of Engineers (India) in its Panbazar premises in collaboration with a host of State and Central Government organisations. Inaugurating the celebration, Tarun Gogoi Chief Minister, Assam appealed to the engineers and technocrats to take up immediate measures to harness the vast water resources of this region. In spite of various odds, he said, it is possible to plan for sustainable development schemes incorporating the basic tenets of ecological, economic and ethical aspects. Gogoi also released the souvenir, published to commemorate the event. Bharat Chandra Narah, Minister of Water Resources, and Nurjamal Sarkar, Minister of Irrigation, Assam attended the inaugural meet as the guests of honour. Addressing the gathering, Narah lamented that even after 60 years of independence, the region has not been able to frame a comprehensive "Blue Print' or "Road Map' for the water resources development. The technical proceedings incorporating a wide variety of issues pertaining to the theme was released by Narah. In his address, Nurjamal Sarkar highlighted about the pivotal role water management can bring about for poverty alleviation, environmental sustenance and sustainable economic development. Maintaining the tradition of the Institution of Engineers, Assam State Centre, this year also the best engineering graduate of Gauhati University was awarded with the Satyendra Sarma Memorial Award, instituted by the family of Late Sarma and the Centre to Shivaji Choudhury of Assam Engineering College. In absentia, parent of Shivaji Choudhury received this award from the Chief Minister, Assam.