IIT-Madras to work with CPCL

Hyderabad: Indian Institute of Technology Madras has joined hands with Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) to provide Solar Power, Safe Drinking Water and create better sanitation conditions in the villages of Vellalapakkam, Gopurajapuram and Panangudi Villages in Nagapattinam district. The project will be executed over the next 24 months in coordination with the State Government at an estimated total cost Rs 14.49 crore.'

The CPCL is funding the ambitious project in these villages, which are near its’ Cauvery Basin Refinery, Nagapattinam, under its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). TheCPCL has Refineries in Chennai and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu. IIT Madras submitted proposals to execute the project and entered into a MoU with CPCL Prof Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras, signed the MoU with M Sankaranarayanan, Chief General Manager (HR & Legal), CPCL, in the presence of Rajeev Ailawadi, Director (Finance), CPCL, at IIT Madras recently.

Speaking about the importance of this Project, Prof Ravindra Gettu said, “CPCL and IIT Madras have partnered in various R&D, technical and HRD projects in the past and we are confident that this CSR project of CPCL will contribute immensely towards societal improvement.” Welcoming the contribution of IIT Madras, Rajeev Ailawadi, Director (Finance), CPCL, said, “We expect the project to be one of the showcase CSR Projects of CPCL and we assure that CPCL will provide all support required to IIT Madras towards its execution.”

IIT Madras will conduct topographical survey to study the area and ground levels for designing Water Distribution System. It will also assess the pond and conduct water quality testing, estimate the yield of wells in the area and carry out an electrical resistivity survey to design borewells. A social survey would also be conducted in the project to obtain the feedback of people in the area and obtain their cooperation. Looking forward to collaborating with IIT Madras on the CSR Project, Mr. M. Sankaranarayanan, Chief General Manager (HR & Legal), CPCL, said, “We hope that CPCL and IIT Madras can jointly transform the lives of the poor and needy of these villages.”

IIT Madras will also work towards constructing Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plants and Drinking Water distribution systems in the village schools / anganwaadis, rejuvenating and rehabilitating the water bodies. The institute will also improve the pedagogy and infrastructure in all the village schools /anganwaadis.Solar Power for Households, Compost yard construction, skill development and health care activities would also be undertaken.