Mangalore: BASF Launches Major ‘Water Education’ Project in City

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VA)

Mangalore, May 10: BASF in partnership with UN-HABITAT announced a new project to promote water education in the city on Tuesday May 10.

Funded by BASF Social Foundation with counter part contribution by UN-HABITAT, the project aims to promote water education in schools and improve water quality monitoring in city. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) will implement the project over the next two years.

As a symbolic commitment to the project objectives, Prasad Chandran, chairman and managing director, BASF India Limited and head South Asia, Dr Hartmut Unger, head – BASF Social Foundation, Andre Dzikus, chief – water and sanitation section II, UN-HABITAT and Pronab Dasgupta, senior advisor and director, TERI signed a statement of purpose and handed it over to Praveen, mayor of Mangalore City Corporation.
The event was attended by an eminent audience comprised of local political leaders, civic officials, key industry representatives, beneficiaries of the project and the people of Mangalore.

In his address, Prasad Chandran said, “BASF is committed to conducting business sustainably. We are also committed to choosing social projects that will have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate”.
“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.

Andre Dzikus emphasized the need to bring about behavioral change among students regarding water use.  With the help of value based formal and informal educational initiatives, students will learn about the importance of clean drinking water. As a part of science education, students will be able to analyze the physical and chemical aspects of water, as well as acquire skills on how to purify water.

The water education project will encompass 5000 students from 25 schools in city. 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 monitoring and two schools will have “water classrooms” educate students on water cycle and water conservation methods. Specially trained teachers will train students throughout the project duration. In addiction, water quality testing kits will be provided to select schools for field analysis benefitting communities living around 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.