Reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship, Mohan Babu University (MBU), established by actor, educationist and philanthropist Dr M. Mohan Babu, has successfully implemented a comprehensive rainwater harvesting (RWH) system across its campus.

Led by students of the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Engineering (SoE), in collaboration with the National Service Scheme (NSS), the four-month initiative combined technical innovation with community engagement. The project revitalised existing recharge pits and constructed advanced new storage systems, aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Climate Action.

The work was executed in two phases: restoration of old recharge pits through soil treatment, cleaning and refilling with coarse aggregates, followed by the development of new recharge pits with RCC foundations, waterproof retaining walls and rooftop surface treatment to maximise water capture and retention.

Alongside engineering upgrades, the project prioritised awareness-building and community participation. Students, faculty and NSS volunteers organised seminars, training sessions and workshops to promote household-level RWH, while outreach programmes in local schools extended the initiative’s impact beyond the campus. Collaborations with NGOs and sustainability-focused startups further strengthened the programme.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr G.K. Arun Vivek, HoD, School of Civil Engineering, said: “This initiative is not just about environmental engineering, it’s about nurturing responsible, sustainability-minded citizens. By integrating technical learning with social impact, we’re preparing our students to be agents of positive change.”

With this project, MBU reaffirms its mission to develop engineers who are both technically proficient and environmentally conscious.

Also Read: Mohan Babu University faculty among world’s top 2% scientists in Stanford/Elsevier List