Mangalore, May 10: BASF in partnership with UN-HABITAT announced a new project to promote water education in Mangalore, funded by BASF Social Foundation with counterpart contribution by UN-Habitat, the project aims to promote water education in the schools and improve quality monitoring in Mangalore, said KV Rao, representative of BASF.
Speaking at the press meet held at Hotel Ocean Pearl on May 10, Tuesday he said that ‘The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) will be implementing the project over the next two years.
Sunitha Sule said that the water education will encompass 5000 students from 25 schools in Mangalore. Provision of access to safe drinking water will be provided to students in these schools as well as communities in the vicinity of these schools.
Out of the 25 schools, eight schools will be equipped with ‘Water laboratories’ to facilitate water quality mentoring and two schools will have ‘water classrooms’ to educate students on water cycle and water conservation methods. Specially trained teachers will train be provided to select schools for field analysis benefitting communities living around the schools. The water quality map of Mangalore will be displayed at strategic locations in the city and the water test results can be communicated to relevant authorities for follow –up action, if necessary.
Later speaking at the ceremony, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the company is working for the education, societal service must be appreciated. At present there is a large competition for the stand in the environment.
He also said that, there is need of education to clean the river Ganga once again. I am not against any industries and development, but surely oppose for the development which destroys the nature and environment. He urged the company to provide the public sanitation in the places where there is not available and provide drinking water facility in rural villages.
As a symbolic commitment to the project objectives, Prasad Chandran, chairman and managing director, BASF India Ltd, Dr Hartmut Unger, head of BASF Social Foundation, Andre Dzikus, chief – water and sanitation section II in WSIB and Pronob Dasgupta, senior advisor and director, TERI signed a statement of purpose and handed it over to Mayor of MCC Praveen Anchan.
Moodbidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain and MCC Commissioner Dr K N Vijayaprakash were present.