Bengaluru, May 2, 2024: The Art of Living Social Projects and AquaKraft have set up a dedicated ‘Karnataka Water+ve CSR Fund’ to address water scarcity and promote sustainable water management practices across Karnataka, India.
The announcement was made at “Jal Pe Charcha” a program organised by AquaKraft in association with Bosch, UN Global Compact Network India, AqVerium – World’s 1st Digital Water Bank, Leo Burnett, & Art of Living Social Projects.
Speaking on the occasion, C Sridhar, Governor, AquaKraft Group Ventures, said, “Our mantra for Karnataka is “Namma Neeru Namage”, which means our water for ourselves. Approximately 72% of water consumed by us goes down the drain literally. Thanks to technology advancements, efforts to recycle them for non-potable use has been on the rise. But still much needs to be done here. Sewage treatment sector has been hit by low water recovery, high operating costs, sludge management, dependency on skilled man-power, etc. It impedes expansion beyond statutory requirements (pollution control board’s diktats).”
“Embracing green technology with low operating cost, modular installation structures, working on gravity without using any chemical treatment, recovering over 90% treated water is the suggested go to-market action plan. Partnering with The Art of Living Social Projects brings tremendous value towards achieving our joint goal of making India Water+,” he said.
The Karnataka Water+ve initiative seeks to revolutionize water conservation, rejuvenation of water bodies, and efficient water resource management in Karnataka. With the launch of this CSR fund, the partners aim to harness the collective resources and commitment of corporations to accelerate the implementation of impactful projects under the Karnataka Water+ve program.
AquaKraft’s time tested Geo Soil Filter Biotechnology (GSF) is green, energy efficient, water +ve which works on gravity, with no use of chemicals, no sludge or odor, recovering over 98% treated water for use for all non-potable purposes, industry & irrigation without any secondary or tertiary treatment. GSF is a home-grown technology under a unique R&D agreement between AquaKraft & the prestigious institute of Chemical technology (formerly known as UDCT), Mumbai has successfully treated and recycled over 54 billion liters of impurities, saving more than 160 trillion liters to date, with ongoing progress.
“Water scarcity presents a formidable challenge to the welfare of communities in Karnataka. Through the establishment of this CSR fund, our objective is to rally corporate support and resources to spearhead impactful water conservation initiatives as part of the Karnataka Water+ve program, thereby fostering the sustainable development of the region. Our extensive expertise coupled with AquaKraft’s environmentally conscious interventions form a potent combination to tackle this pressing issue confronting humanity,” commented Prasana Prabhu, Chairman – The Art of Living Social Projects.
“The visionary foresight of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar, who identified this challenge more than 15 years ago and initiated interventions accordingly, has provided us with a unique insight. This experience has enabled us to integrate our strategies and solutions with community engagement and leverage government schemes, thereby creating a lasting legacy of water positivity. We are delighted to collaborate with AquaKraft and its founder Dr Subramanya Kusnur - New Waterman of India, in this endeavor and eagerly anticipate driving impactful, environmentally friendly, and data-driven solutions for water sustainability,” he said.
The Art of Living Social Projects has been instrumental in rejuvenating over 70 rivers and streams. Their efforts have led to the construction of more than 90,500 recharge structures, benefiting over 3,45,00,000 individuals across a vast area of over 59,000 square kilometres. With a remarkable outreach, they have covered over 19,000 villages and continue to make strides with projects underway in 8 states, significantly contributing to the sustainability and well-being of communities nationwide.
The program utilizes the thorough on-the-ground research and baseline surveys conducted by The Art of Living Social Projects, which are specifically aimed at revitalizing water bodies. This is achieved through a comprehensive approach that combines rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment, recycling, and groundwater recharge. Importantly, treated sewage is disinfected and released daily, ensuring continuous replenishment regardless of rainfall.
Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee (IAS retd), Father of CSR in India and Chairman of AquaKraft Foundation, said, “A report by NITI Ayog in 2019 asserted that twenty-one cities in India, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, are projected to exhaust their groundwater resources by 2020, impacting approximately 100 million people. Furthermore, the report highlighted that by 2030, 40 percent of India's population may lack access to drinking water. The current water crisis in Bengaluru underscores the urgency of the situation. The establishment of this CSR fund signifies a significant step in directing corporate CSR funds towards the Karnataka Water+ve program, serving as a model for others to follow. Additionally, incentivizing such CSR investments with AquaKredits through AquaKraft’s AqVerium – the world’s first Digital Water Bank – ensures the accurate measurement of water usage and efficiency, facilitating precise impact assessment.”
