IIT Madras Launches ‘Jal Dhan’ Campaign To Conserve Water

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) launched the Jal Dhan Campaign in the campus today (15th Sept 2023) in the presence of Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution of India, Government of India, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, faculty and students. 

The campaign was inaugurated during the National Level Water Conclave – 2K23 held with the theme of Sustainable Agriculture with millet focus, water conservation and rainwater harvesting in Industrial sectors  

Addressing the campaign inauguration, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, said, “The Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi had also launched ‘Mission LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment) that will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment. Our Ministry is continuously working to improve environment.”  

Recalling the slogan of ‘One drop, One Crop,’ Choubey added, “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.”  

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “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?  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.” 

“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,” added Kamakoti.