The students of Design Your Degree (DYD) program of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) visited the Water Filtration and Distribution Plant at Baba Dhansar, with the objective of understanding the technical part of the process and to get sensitized regarding the social and economic aspects of water filtration and distribution. The visit was in connection with the project being undertaken by the students, under the supervision of the mentors Prof. Sumeet Gupta and Dr. Sakshi Arora, Associate Professor, to propose a public awareness campaign regarding water conservation.
The visit was facilitated by Prof. Sharada M. Potukuchi, Nodal Officer, DYD program, Mr. Kamal Sharma, University Engineer, SMVDU and Mr. Deep Mahajan, AEE, PHE, Katra. During the visit, Mr. Ankit, AE, PHE provided the students with an in-depth understanding of the plant’s operational processes, including water filtration, pumping mechanisms, and the overall distribution network. The students were also apprised of the economic aspects involved in maintaining the water supply system and were sensitized to the critical importance of water conservation in the context of sustainable resource management. The students actively engaged in discussions, clarified their queries, and visited the various operational units of the plant, such as the pumping station, filtration unit, and distribution points. The exposure provided them with a practical understanding of the end-to-end process — from water collection at the catchment area to the delivery of clean, treated water to city consumers.
Prof. Sharada emphasized that such experiential visits play a vital role in bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world applications and not only enhance students’ awareness of the technical and economic dynamics of essential infrastructure but also promote a sense of responsibility towards judicious and sustainable use of water resources. On behalf of the DYD team and students, she expressed her thanks to Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU for encouraging and motivating the team to organize such events for active participation of university students in identification of day-to-day societal activities
