IIT Madras launches Jal Dhan Campaign to conserve water

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has launched the Jal Dhan Campaign in the campus today, September 15. The campaign was launched in the presence of Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The campaign was inaugurated during the National Level Water Conclave 2023 held with the theme of Sustainable Agriculture with millet focus, water conservation and rainwater harvesting in Industrial sectors.

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Recalling the slogan of ‘One drop, One Crop’, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said,“It is important to conserve water for the future. The Government is also working to rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district of the country. The minister congratulated IIT Madras for having great Flora and fauna at the campus.”

The Jal Dhan Project is intended to save water and around 475 non-governmental organizations are working on this initiative across the country.

V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras said , "We are going to cover various components like awareness and Virtual water concept where we are going to talk about how industries can conserve and reuse water. Till now, we have covered 12 States as part of this project. ”

Today, due to climatic conditions, we are seeing extreme variations in terms of heavy drought or heavy flooding and there is also an imminent need to conserve this precious nature’s gift. This conclave is to sensitise all of us to the changing climatic conditions in the world. Our small drops make an ocean, she added.

Professor Balaji Narasimhan, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras emphasised on achieving sustainability goals. "Even if we do achieve 100% rainwater harvesting, in order to achieve our Sustainability Goals, we have to start reusing and recycling our water. This is something we have achieved in our campus. Chennai City is taking expertise from IIT Madras on reusing and recycling water. There is a project where 260 MLD of sewage is being taken, treated and the water is being put back into the lakes, which are in turn treated and supplied to meet the water requirements of the city”, he added.