Kolkata, November 14, 2025: The 31st Indian Plumbing Conference & Exhibition, organized by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), was inaugurated today by Chief Guest – Firhad Hakim, Hon’ble Mayor of Kolkata and Minister of Urban and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal and Guest of Honour – Debashis Sen, IAS (Retd). The inauguration took place in the presence of Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association, Chandra Shekhar Gupta, National Vice President, IPA, Minesh Shah, National Hon. Secretary, IPA, Abhay Pasari, Chairman, IPA Kolkata Chapter and Pradeep Chakravarti, Vice Chairman, IPA Kolkata Chapter.
With the central theme of “Sustainable Smart Water Management,” the three-day conference, being held in Kolkata after 9 years, will be addressing pressing issues and future strategies in India’s plumbing and water ecosystem. The event brings together eminent experts, policymakers and industry leaders to deliberate on critical topics such as Transforming Water Supply with Real-Time Data – through AI & IoT in Water Management, Innovations in Wastewater Treatment and Water Circularity, Road to Water Neutral Buildings & Challenges in Plumbing Design & Installation for High-Rise Buildings.
The exhibition has drawn participation from over 80 leading exhibitors from across India and abroad, showcasing the latest technologies, products and innovations in plumbing, water treatment, and sustainable building solutions.
“This conference resonates deeply with the objectives of national initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT 2.0 which emphasize strengthening water supply infrastructure and fostering urban sustainability. Smart water management powered by data-driven innovation, coherent policies and effective on-ground execution holds the potential to be truly transformative in realizing both national priorities and global sustainability commitments, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, said Mr Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association.
A revised 2025 edition of the code – Water Efficiency And Sanitation Standard For The Built Environment (We Stand – India) was released today. The code has been jointly formulated by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). IAPMO is a globally recognized body dedicated to developing safe and sustainable plumbing and mechanical codes and standards.
Eminent experts from across India’s water industry and government institutions shared their perspectives, including Mr Milind Deore, Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, Mr Rohit Kakkar, Deputy Adviser, CPHEEO, MoHUA, Mr G. Ashok Kumar, Director General (Retd.), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Mr Avinash Mishra, Former Adviser, NITI Aayog, and Chairman IPA Water Audit Council, Mr M. K. Sinha, Former Chairman, Central
Water Commission, Mr Sushil Mohta, Chief Managing Director, Merlin Group, Mr Apurva Salarpuria, Managing Director, Salarpuria Group, Dr Asis Mazumdar, Professor, Jadavpur University, Ms Shreya Khurana, Programme Associate, Water & Environment, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Mr H.C. Vinayaka, Vice President, Technical, EHS & Sustainability, ITC Hotels, Mr Prem Thakur, Vice President & Head, Design & Technical Services, IHCL Taj Group, Mr Anand Neotia, Director, Orbit Group, Mr Yashasvi Shroff, Executive & Marketing Director, Alcove Group & Ar. Shakuntala Ghosh, Principal Architect & Partner, Ghosh Bose and Associates.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to the plumbing and water management sector, IPA conferred the prestigious Navaratna Award and Lifetime Achievement Award to deserving individuals who have significantly advanced the cause of sustainable and professional plumbing practices in India.
By bridging technology, policy and practical implementation, the 31st Indian Plumbing Conference & Exhibition emphasizes that sustainable smart water management is not just a futuristic vision it is the next essential step toward securing India’s water future, fostering climate resilience and ensuring sustainable urban development.
