In its 58 years of existence, Manipal University, Karnataka, has managed to transform 600 acres of rocky hills without a blade of grass into a campus shrouded in greenery. Today, 22 per cent of the campus is lush green and the men behind this magic are TMA Pai, the varsity’s founder; Ramdas M Pai, chancellor; Ranjan Pai, CEO of Manipal Education and Medical Group; HS Ballal, pro-chancellor; PLNG Rao, director of quality and compliance and Col PS Shetti, head of the projects team. In 2010-11, Rs 14.98 crore was spent on setting up solid waste management, rainwater harvesting, vermicomposting, and waste water recycling plants. Now, the 40 litres of water that are required for daily usage is obtained by recycling. The entire campus is capable of harvesting rainwater. All the solid waste processed by vermicomposting is used as manure and the college hostels, which accommodate over 14,000 students, run completely on solar power. Students are encouraged to use bicycles or public transportation to minimise pollution on a campus where smoking and plastics have been banned. Says Col Badri, director of general purchase services, “A higher education community that is improving energy efficiency, conserving resources and enhancing environmental quality is truly a green campus.” Already engaged in the conversion of vacant areas into lung spaces by planting trees, shrubs, creepers, turf etc, it also plans to promote the use of clean and safe technologies in order to utilise natural resources efficiently.
Manipal has been certified as an ISO 14001:2004 organisation as per the series of voluntary standards on environmental management systems developed and maintained by ISO. Besides two mandatory courses on environment, eco-friendly practices are encouraged among the students. At Manipal, sustainability has become a way of life, with three student organisations actively involved in community development, engaging with local issues, and protecting the environment. It is no wonder that Manipal University was placed number 2 in the country and number 78 in the world in the UI green metric ranking of universities across the world for 2011.
NIIT University
Nestled picturesquely in the foothills of Aravali in Neemrana, Rajasthan, the 100-acre campus of NIIT University has been planned, designed and built in line with the core value of sustainability. The buildings on the campus use a high percentage of recycled material and are equipped with solar energy tapping techniques that harvest daylight. Waste water is treated and reused on the campus. Geo-thermal coupling of all the buildings through a network of air tunnels was an integral part of the design — this ensures the air inside remains cool in summer and warm during winter. Air Commodore (Retd) Kamal Singh, chief administrative officer, says, “We sought out a design that would not need conditioning for human comfort.”
Despite the heat in Neemrana, students are encouraged to walk inside the campus and a shaded, rain-protected pedestrian spine has been built linking all major areas of the campus. Facilities are located throughout the spine. Students are encouraged to leave their motor vehicles at the entrance itself. “Sustainable living is essential for our survival. The leaders of tomorrow must be conscious of a low carbon economy and must link the decisions they make to this. A campus is a great place for social change. One implemented idea can shape a thousand lives,” says Singh.
NIIT University was awarded the most environment-friendly campus at the 2011 India Today Aspire Education Summit. NIIT University takes ‘green learning’ beyond lectures. The students often trek in the Aravali, participate in adventure activities, go on camps and sleep under the stars to engage with nature. The university has introduced the practice of viewing sunset from a specially designed amphitheatre to instil in students reverence, recognition and respect for nature.
The students have planted over 10,000 trees of various varieties in the hills. The tree planting is an annual event during the monsoons in an effort to convert the kaali pahari (black hills) into hari pahari (green hills). A nursery has been set up on campus by the students and locals. After the 2008-flash floods, the university initiated the building of 14 check dams to conserve water and prevent flooding. Over the past few years, students have begun celebrating makar sankrathi and somvar savant with the local community, feasting on and experiencing the traditions of the people. “These activities drive the students to be naturally inclined towards conservation. We want them to be curious. Someone might want to study the Aravalis for a credit. If so, we will begin offering that as a course as well,” says Singh.
Bishop Moore College
It’s not only me. Ever since the establishment of the college in 1964, every principal has insisted on eco-friendly and sustainable campus life,” insists K Kurian Thomas, principal of Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Kerala. In 1980, students of this college began planting teak and mahogany trees around the campus. The trees have now grown to a diameter of 60 inches each. To retain the moisture in the soil,
vettiver has been planted all through the campus. Several rare species of trees can be found on the campus. “The college is crowded with students, who need fresh air for a healthy lifestyle and to enrich their learning and listening. This is the only campus in Kerala with bamboo trees,” says Thomas.
In 2007, the college won Palathulli Award and a cash prize of `1 lakh for outstanding water eco-friendly educational institute from Malayalam Manorama. Rainwater from atop the buildings are collected in long trenches. Solar lighting completely powers the hostels and other buildings. Students also strive to keep the campus plastic free by promoting the use of paper bags, cups and plates. Insists Thomas, “Every small thing matters. I personally use ink pens instead of the throw away ball-point. I encourage my students to do the same.”
Zoology and botany students are involved in birdwatching and studying of wetlands. In 2011, The college conducted a seminar on climate change and food security and a 340-page book with abstracts, articles and papers presented at the seminar was published afterward.
This academic year, the zoology department organised a seminar for agricultural farmers and students on honeybee and later published The handbook of the Honeybee. Its NSS students have planted tapioca and plantain trees on campus. Mango and fig trees will come in soon. The botany department has recorded all the flora and fauna that can be found on the campus, and have brought out a book with a picture and a short history of every plant, bird or animal. A vegetable patch and a herbal garden are in the planning stages. Thomas says, “The local community is responsive and the students engage with them. The campus is a wonderful place to start going green. As the students are the building blocks of the society, exposing them to these vital issues will result in them going out to spread the ideas, first in their homes, and then in the society.”
Great Lakes Institute of Management
Being the first educational institute in the country to achieve LEED platinum certification from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) campus near Chennai, has taken up several initiatives that phenomenally minimises the institute’s carbon footprint.
The residential campus reduces student commuting and the staff commute by campus buses instead of individual vehicles. Great Lakes actively promotes the usage of alternative fuel for motor vehicles and encourages car pooling. In addition to rainwater harvesting, the roof of all the buildings is covered with reflective material to keep the interiors cool. “These students are the managers of the world. They will be future CEOs and they need to carry this knowledge and eco-consciousness wherever they go. That is why it is even more important for a management school to instil the value of sustainability,” says S Sriram, executive director, Great Lakes.
Water is effectively recycled and reused on campus. Only treated water is used for landscaping and efforts have been taken to minimise use by installing water-efficient fixtures including low-flow dual flush toilets and sensor-based urinals. The campus has ensured energy efficiency by providing ample day-lit spaces, efficient lighting, conduction of walls and roof. Waste, broken china, tiles and bricks have been used to build fences, sculptures and artifacts to reduce the usage of virgin material. Over five per cent of the total material by cost was made of renewable sources and 45 per cent of the material by cost was locally procured, thereby bringing down the transportation cost. Debris from the construction was recycled into the campus. With plenty of ventilation and open spaces, it is also a no smoking zone. “This greenery makes you feel good. It’s nice to live in a pollution-free campus,” says Divya Gupta, a student council member. Indoor environmental quality is enhanced by low-emitting paints, carpets and wood products. Productivity and well-being of all occupants are kept in check by a thermally comfortable environment.
The green committee is the driving force behind all the initiatives on the campus. Abhilash Mohapatra, Saurabh Joshi, Prachee Dash and Gourave Daipuria are the key players. This committee has organised quizzes, events, lectures and plantation drives to advocate the green cause on campus. Mohapatra says, “These campuses offer an idea of sustainable living by getting us ready to be green managers in the future.” Great Lakes is introducing a programme on global energy and environmental management.
The IITs
IIT-Madras and IIT-Bombay in addition to being crucial lung spaces in Chennai and Mumbai due to the large campuses, are also the pioneers in thinking ‘sustainability’. With efficient systems in place, students of these institutes strive to conserve wildlife, minimise the use of natural resources, recycle wherever possible, do their bit and more to change mindsets and innovate technology to reduce the stress on environment.
— seker.archanaa@gmail.com