Central University, NBCC join hands to develop sustainable green campus

An aerial view of rainwater harvesting and watershed development works under way on Central University campus in Kalaburagi under a ₹1.21 crore project sponsored by NBCC.

The Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, has taken up a ₹1.21 crore research and development project, sponsored by National Buildings Construction Corporation (India) Limited, to strengthen rainwater harvesting, watershed management and biodiversity conservation on its campus.

As part of the initiative, Vice-Chancellor Battu Satyanarayana inaugurated a regenerative perennial biodiversity plantation drive by planting saplings on the university campus on Monday.

The initiative aims to increase green cover, enhance biodiversity and strengthen the campus ecosystem as part of the university’s efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development.

Sanctioned in November 2024 with financial assistance from NBCC, the project is being implemented under the leadership of Principal Investigator Channaveer, Tejaswi Lakkundi, Kavishankar Gawli and S. Lingamurthy are the co-investigators.

The Vice-Chancellor is mentoring and supervising the project.

Under the initiative, rainwater harvesting structures have been developed across nearly 60 acres of the university campus.

An existing open well has been desilted, while new surface water bodies have been created to improve water conservation and groundwater recharge.

Drip irrigation facilities have also been introduced for the perennial plantations to ensure efficient utilisation of water resources.

The project will additionally assess the environmental and socio-economic benefits of these interventions, with particular focus on their impact on groundwater availability and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices in villages surrounding the university.