Media Release

Udupi, Mar 22: The department of Civil Engineering in association with Eco Club of Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal, organized a programme on 'Water Conservation and Management' on March 22 in connection with World Water Day.

The programme's motto was to create awareness about the importance and conservation of ground water, drinking water from desalinization and also on rain water harvesting in costal districts.

Prof. Muraleedhara Upadhya, former professor, Poornaprajna College, Udupi, spoke about harnessing drinking water from the sea and different methods of rain water harvesting particularly suitable for coastal areas like vented dams, Kattas etc. Prof. Upadhya stressed that the dams which were constructed during post-independence period are in danger and also not fulfilling there demands now. Hence site specific, economical methods are need of the hour for Rainwater harvesting. Stressing the drinking water schemes of Udupi, Prof Upadhya informed that in addition to benefits of the scheme, bio-diversity and feasibility of the project to be studied considering environmental factors.

Ratnakumar, secretary of SSVMET informed that land and water are precious but limited resources & urged civil engineering department to organize seminar and conferences regarding Conservation and management of water with special emphasis on coastal districts to update knowledge. Principal Dr Tirumaleshwar Bhat informed students to use water judiciously in the campus. Dr. Sandeep Nayak gave presentation on World water theme 'Groundwater: making the Invisible Visible'.

On this occasion, prizes were distributed to the students who participated in water awareness programme organized by the eco-club. Vice principal Dr Ganesh Aithal, deans, HOD’s, faculty members and students actively participated in the session.