The 31^st Indian Plumbing Conference & Exhibition, organized by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), was inaugurated by Mr Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association, Mr Chandra Shekhar Gupta, National Vice President, IPA, Mr Minesh Shah, National Hon. Secretary, IPA, Mr Abhay Pasari, Chairman, IPA Kolkata Chapter and Mr Pradeep Chakravarti, Vice Chairman, IPA Kolkata Chapter.

The three-day conference, held in Kolkata after a nine-year hiatus, had “Sustainable Smart Water Management” as its main theme, addressing current problems and potential solutions for India’s water and wastewater environment. Prominent experts, legislators, and business executives convened at the event to discuss key issues, including transforming water supply with real-time data through AI & IoT in Water Management, Innovations in Wastewater Treatment and Water Circularity, and the Road to water-neutral buildings, as well as challenges in plumbing design and installation for High-Rise Buildings.

More than 80 top exhibitors from India and beyond participated in the expo, which featured the newest innovations, products, and technology in water treatment, plumbing, and sustainable construction solutions.

A revised 2025 edition of the code – Water Efficiency And Sanitation Standard For The Built Environment (We Stand- India)was also released. The code has been jointly formulated by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).

Eminent experts from across India’s water industry and government institutions shared their perspectives, including Milind Deore, Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, Rohit Kakkar, Deputy Adviser, CPHEEO, MoHUA, G. Ashok Kumar, Director General (Retd.), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Avinash Mishra, Former Adviser, NITI Aayog, and Chairman IPA Water Audit Council, M. K. Sinha, Former Chairman, Central Water Commission, Sushil Mohta, Chief Managing Director, Merlin Group, Apurva Salarpuria, Managing Director, Salarpuria Group, Dr Asis Mazumdar, Professor, Jadavpur University, Shreya Khurana, Programme Associate, Water & Environment, National Institute of Urban Affairs, H.C. Vinayaka, Vice President, Technical, EHS & Sustainability, ITC Hotels, Prem Thakur, Vice President & Head, Design & Technical Services, IHCL Taj Group, Anand Neotia, Director, Orbit Group, Yashasvi Shroff, Executive & Marketing Director, Alcove Group and Ar. Shakuntala Ghosh, Principal Architect & Partner, Ghosh Bose and Associates.

The renowned Navaratna Award and Lifetime Achievement Award were given by IPA to worthy persons who have made a substantial contribution to the advancement of professional and sustainable plumbing practices in India, in appreciation of their exceptional contributions to the plumbing and water management industries.

The 31st Indian Plumbing Conference & Exhibition highlighted that sustainable smart water management is not only a futuristic vision but also the next crucial step toward securing India’s water future, promoting climate resilience, and guaranteeing sustainable urban development by bridging technology, policy, and practical implementation.

Priyanka Dutta