The project funded by BASF Social Foundation, aims to promote water education in schools and improve water quality monitoring in the city. The project will be implemented by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for the next two years.
After signing a statement of purpose with TERI and MCC, BASF India Ltd MD and Chairman Prasad Chandran said the access to clean and safe drinking water is a challenge for a rapidly developing city like Mangalore. The water education project will have long-lasting effects on a large group of people, he added.
The Water Education project will include 5000 students from 25 schools in the city. Provision will be given to safe drinking water to these students 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 monitoring and two schools will have ‘water classrooms’ to educate students on water cycle and water conservation methods.
Specially trained teachers will train students throughout the project duration. In addition, water quality testing kits will 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.
