SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 28: The Department of Environmental Science & Engineering (ESE) at IIT (ISM) on Friday launched two major programmes on water conservation and efficient wastewater management at Pandar Kanari South Panchayat, Parasia, Dhanbad.
The initiative has been organized in collaboration with Jharkhand Foundation Kendra and sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India.
Focus on Sustainable Practices and Community Awareness
Senior IIT (ISM) faculty members — Prof. Alok Sinha, Head of ESE and coordinator of the EIACP Centre; Prof. Sunil Kumar Gupta, Dean (Student Welfare); and Prof. Suresh Pandian E., Associate Professor and co-coordinator of the EIACP Centre — attended the programme and highlighted its significance.
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In his address, Prof. Sinha explained the purpose of the national Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP). He emphasized that sustainable development can be achieved only when scientific knowledge is effectively communicated to, and adopted by, local communities.
Prof. Gupta underlined the growing urgency of water conservation and efficient wastewater management, especially in rural regions where decentralized systems rely heavily on trained community participation.
Hands-On Training to Strengthen Community Skills
Prof. Suresh Pandian stressed the importance of continuous hands-on exposure, noting that real-world learning experiences are crucial for building long-term community capability.
Dr. Jaydev Mahato, Executive Director of Jharkhand Foundation Kendra, described the programme as a meaningful step toward bridging institutional expertise with grassroots needs.
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Local administrative leaders, including the BDO of Parasia and the Panchayat Mukhiya, praised IIT (ISM)’s initiative in making environmental capacity-building efforts accessible at the village level. Community representatives such as Chameli Devi, Laxmi Devi and Sima Devi also expressed strong support for the training.
According to officials, the programme was conducted under the guidance of Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT (ISM); Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director; and Prof. Alok Sinha. The coordination was overseen by Bishwajit Das, Programme Officer.
