NITK Surathkal Inaugurates Advanced Water Disinfection Plant Funded by Petronet MHB Ltd
A cutting-edge water disinfection plant with an installed capacity of one million litres per day was recently inaugurated at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Surathkal, Mangaluru. This significant infrastructure project is designed to enhance the campus's water supply by treating raw water from local sources.
Inauguration by Alumni and Institute Leadership
The plant was inaugurated by Sudhir Kumar, managing director of Petronet MHB Ltd and an alumnus of the 1989 mechanical engineering batch of NITK, alongside Prof B Ravi, director of NITK Surathkal. This collaboration marks a key step in addressing water sustainability on campus.
Advanced Treatment Process for Safe Water
The facility employs a sophisticated two-stage filtration system, followed by chlorination and ozonation. This process effectively removes excess iron and various waterborne contaminants, ensuring the water meets high safety standards for consumption and use.
Funding and Corporate Social Responsibility
The project was fully funded by Petronet MHB Ltd, a subsidiary of ONGC and HPCL, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative for the 2025–26 period. Sudhir Kumar emphasized the company's commitment to CSR, stating that it aims to create a lasting positive impact on societal well-being.
He expressed particular pride in undertaking this project at his alma mater, NITK, and thanked the institute for partnering with Petronet. Kumar highlighted that the initiative is expected to benefit thousands of students, staff, and faculty residing on the campus by providing a reliable and clean water source.
Enhancing Campus Sustainability Goals
Director Prof B Ravi acknowledged Petronet's contribution towards NITK's vision of developing a smart and sustainable campus. He noted that the plant complements other water management efforts, such as a recently created rainwater harvesting reservoir with a capacity of approximately 30 million litres on the north-east side of the campus.
Prof Ravi explained, "This filtration plant will enable us to utilize water from the rainwater reservoir and other campus sources, effectively addressing shortfalls from the Mangalore Municipal Corporation during the summer months." This integration supports the institute's goal of reducing dependency on external water supplies and promoting environmental stewardship.
The inauguration of this water disinfection plant represents a major advancement in NITK Surathkal's infrastructure, aligning with broader efforts to ensure water security and sustainability for its academic community.
