Vizianagaram, March 25: JNTUK will be introducing a paper on region-specific issues for engineering students from next academic year.
It is being introduced as part its responsibility towards society. This will enable students to utilise their ideas for the betterment of deprived classes, said Allam Appa Rao, Vice-Chancellor of the university.
After inaugurating the two-day international symposium on desalination, drinking water quality in rural areas, drought mitigation and water reuse, organised by the department of chemistry in collaboration with the Indian Desalination Association (InDA) on the university campus here on Thursday,
Mr. Appa Rao said the university college had already begun ‘lab-to-land’ and started testing water samples. He asked the students to involve themselves in social activities, particularly hygiene, sanitation, proper use of water and its reuse. He said the symposium would enhance their knowledge and advised them to tackle problems before they set in.
Treasurer of InDA, Mumbai, V.K. Srivastava while explaining the activities of InDA, said the objective of the symposium was to discuss at length appropriate use of water purification technology, water treatment and reuse as the demand for fresh water had almost tripled over the past few years. InDA had been striving hard to address water security threat, Mr. Srivastava said.
He also announced appointment of Ch. V. Ramachandra Murty of Andhra University as the executive council member of InDA for 2011-13.
Semester system
G.V.R. Prasad Raju, Director (Academic Audit), said with the introduction of semester system in the first year of engineering, which was the brainchild of Mr. Appa Rao, the pass percentage had increased from 32 to 48. G. Ranga Janardhana, principal of the college, presided over the symposium.
Prakasam Tata, Executive Director of Centre for Transformation of Waste Technology, was present.
-Agencies