'SUK' Varsity Creates Farm Ponds on Campus

The monsoon expected to begin soon, Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK), has started implementing measures to save water on its campus. The varsity has enlisted the help of the National Service Scheme (NSS) unit, as well its students and faculty members who are digging farm ponds for storing water.

Vice-chancellor Dr.Devanand Shinde inaugurated the 'shramdan' initiative at the university on Tuesday morning in the presence of enthusiastic NSS students and faculty members. According to the university officials, the 'Shramdan' initiative will end on May 13, and the ponds will help storing water once the hopefully ample rains begin soon.

"The varsity is already taking steps necessary to tackle the drought-like situation in future. "We do not want to repeat what the university witnessed this year. The dates of the examinations had to be advanced due to the water shortage, while the botanical department is struggling to ensure the survival of the plants in its garden. Many of the departments are already struggling to get ample water for laboratory experiments or even for drinking."

-Shivaji University, Kolhapur

The official added that physical education teachers from Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts participated in Tuesday's initiative and the university is getting a good response to the voluntary work.

An official from the botany department had said last week that the two artificial ponds they created three years ago have barely any water left. The ponds serve as the primary source of water for the botanical garden and another 500 endemic plants. One of the ponds is located near the borewell behind Bhasha bhavan.

Source- Prasad Patil, City Journalist, College Dekho