Youth for Water Club, a student's wing of the Khariar Autonomous College in Nuapada district, organised an event called "Visit to a water body" on Wednesday to spread awareness on the importance of traditional water bodies.
A team of twenty students along with college Principal Prof Harendra Panda and Chemistry Professor Tarun Pradhan and journalist Ajit Panda visited a tank, Mukta Sagar, near village Muktapur and discussed with the people about the history and present importance of the tank.
People informed that the tank is more than hundred years old and it used to serve all types of needs including drinking purpose of the villagers till 1990. "Other sources like tube-wells and piped water are very recent developments," villagers pointed out.
A meeting of club members was held after the visit with the students sharing their understanding and views on such old water bodies. "We should protect such water bodies to conserve rainwater and increase the groundwater level," opined students.
The Principal revealed that students and teachers of this college have been involved in a campaign led by the Water Initiative, Odisha (WIO) since last three months.
