The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras today launched the Jal Dhan Campaign in the campus. The campaign, inaugurated during the National Level Water Conclave 2023, is in line with the theme of Sustainable Agriculture with millet focus, water conservation and rainwater harvesting in industrial sectors. The Indian government is also working to rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district of the country.

Recalling the slogan of ‘One drop, One Crop’, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state, ministry of environment, forest and climate change, ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution 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….I congratulate IIT Madras for having such great Flora and fauna at the campus.”

“Water is one of the greatest contributions of nature to mankind…All great things today, from the growth of a plant to the survival of human beings.  When we want to find if moon is habitable, the first thing we ask is, if there is water there… This conclave is to sensitise all of us to the changing climatic conditions in the world. Our small drops make an ocean,” said V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras.

“IIT Madras is very committed to this major task, which is one of the prime deliverables of the Sustainable Development Goals. All the 17 SDGs put forward by the United Nations has some connection to water, either implicitly or explicitly,” he further added.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Balaji Narasimhan, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “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.”