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This article presents information on the achievements and activities of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) of the United States. IWRA has achieved considerable landmarks in the year 2005. The Association has leaped forward despite major water disasters in the world starting with South Asian Tsunami and the major damage of Hurricanes in the United States and the persistent drought in Africa. The Association has also completed the 12th World Water Congress in New Delhi, India. Around 500 participants from 50 countries attended the conference. They presented some 200 papers and key note addresses focusing on the contemporary water issues of the day. In this conference, the members of the Association added several special sessions to highlight specific regional water issues of interest to all the participants. It was a learning experience for all the participants. The occasion was accompanied by an excellent dose of cultural events and surrounded with traditional Indian hospitality. Apart from the New Delhi conference IWRA has sponsored and co-sponsored several events in the United States, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Egypt, China and elsewhere to strengthen the dialogue on water issues across the world.

This article presents information on the report of the XIIth World Water Congress of International Water Resource Association. The Congress was held in New Delhi in India during November 22-25, 2005. Around 500 participants from various countries made their presence at the Congress. It was inaugurated by Santosh Mohan Dev, Union Minister of India for Water Resource. The theme of the Congress was "water for sustainable development-towards innovative solutions." The theme was sub-divided in nine topics. The topics include integrated water resources management, water infrastructure development, economics and financing of water, water governance and water security and risk management. This part of the report covers mainly the views from politicians, policy makers, decision makers, lead institutions and lead thinkers around the world. While inaugurating the Conference Dev highlighted India's main water concerns including the development of water infrastructure. He also stressed the need for integrated water resources management including measures for conservation and rainwater harvesting to recharge the groundwater, increasing water efficiency and the creation of storage capacity.

This article focuses on New Delhi, India declaration adopted during the XIIth World Water Congress of International Water Resources Association (IWRA). The Congress was organized by the IWRA in association with the Indian Regional Committee of IWRA and the Central Board of Irrigation and Power of India. The duration of the Congress was from the November 22-25, 2005. The declaration stated that water should be conserved, protected and developed because it is the engine of economic growth, a pillar of sustainable development, an unquestioned fundamental requirement to alleviate poverty and a basic need for every form of life on the planet. The declaration called upon the leaders of the world to place water infrastructure development on the top of the agenda to address and reverse the trends of decades of decline in financial allocation by governments and financial institutions. Before adopting the declaration the Congress raised attention to the implementation of integrated water resources management, focused in particular on the aspects of water efficiency, the importance of stakeholder participation and small-scale adapted solutions in water resources management.