The Chemistry Department of Sangolli Rayanna First Grade Constituent College (SRFGCC) hosted a special lecture titled “Waterborne Pollution, Disease, and Corrective Measures” in Belagavi on Saturday.
K.S. Rane, an expert in chemistry and environmental studies, delivered the inaugural lecture, focusing on the pressing issues surrounding water pollution. “Water sustains life, yet it continues to be neglected,” he remarked, highlighting that Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman had described water as both the world’s most common and essential liquid.
Rane emphasized that one in three people globally lack access to clean drinking water, with millions in India suffering from waterborne diseases each year. He outlined key challenges such as industrial pollution, untreated sewage, deforestation, open defecation, and chemical waste, stressing the need for sustainable and scientific solutions. He also noted the decline in essential dissolved oxygen due to pollutants and the growing threat from non-degradable materials, while discussing emerging technologies in water treatment.
M.G. Hegde of SRFGCC underlined the importance of fostering interactive and curious learning environments, comparing them to chemical reactions that flourish under the right conditions. He urged a shift from passive learning to a more inquiry-driven approach.
Faculty members, including Haimanti Adhikari, Mrunal V. Kangralkar, and Naeemakhtar Momin, were also present at the event.
