Staff Reporter
Mapusa
In a step towards promoting water conservation, the Goa Prison Department, on Thursday, laid the foundation stone for the ‘Jal Kavach’ project at the Central Jail premises in Colvale.
The initiative will not only help in sustainable water management, but will also restore the local water table and preserve groundwater resources.
Speaking to the media, Inspector General of Prisons Omvir Singh Bishnoi said the department is constantly seeking to develop new projects and systems within jail premises.
“Water conservation is the need of the hour. With the launch of the Jal Kavach project, we aim to send a strong message to the people of Goa about preserving water and improving the groundwater table,” said Bishnoi.
Superintendent of Central Jail Shankar B Gaonkar said the project will not only benefit the prison premises but also the surrounding locality. “Glenmark Foundation had approached us with the Jal Kavach proposal, and we placed it before the IG-Prisons, who readily approved it,”
he said.
The project is funded by the Glenmark Foundation and will be implemented by the Balavikasa Foundation.
Tincy George, CSR Head of Glenmark Foundation, said the initiative is part of their wider corporate social responsibility programme.
“So far, we have completed 120 water conservation projects across various states. The goal of Jal Kavach is to increase groundwater levels and ensure water security in the future,” said George.
The foundation stone was laid by IG Prisons Omvir Singh Bishnoi in the presence of Additional IG Prisons Snehal Goltekar, Superintendent Shankar B Gaonkar, Assistant Superintendent Banudas Pednekar, and other prison officials. Representatives from Glenmark Foundation, including Rohit Gupta and George, along with P Tirupati from Balavikasa Foundation were present.
at the ceremony.