Udaipur: “We must change the way we think about water,” said water conservationist Dr. P.C. Jain while addressing the induction programme for newly admitted students at the College of Technology and Engineering (CTAE), Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT).

Highlighting the present water situation, Dr. Jain said water is a limited resource and the rapidly declining groundwater level is a serious warning. Groundwater is a natural capital accumulated by nature over thousands of years. If this precious resource is exhausted within a few decades, it will create a severe crisis for future generations.

He said the “silent drought” beneath the earth is a clear warning that development must be balanced with responsible use of natural resources. According to him, incidents of land subsidence are not merely technical problems but messages from nature, indicating that society ultimately has to pay the price for ignoring ecological limits. He particularly cautioned young people that they may face a serious water crisis in the future if present trends continue.

Dr. Jain explained the concept of “invisible water” by demonstrating the amount of water required to produce everyday items such as sarees and T-shirts. He encouraged students to reduce their water footprint and adopt responsible consumption habits.

He also explained how dumping plastic waste and religious offerings into water bodies harms aquatic life and damages water ecosystems. The session concluded with all participants singing a water conservation song together.

During the second part of the programme, Dr. Jain highlighted the harmful effects of smoking and substance abuse. He administered an oath to the students, who pledged never to consume any form of intoxicating substance and never to allow others to do so. They also pledged that they would never cause distress to their parents because of addiction.

Programme Officer Harvendra Meena welcomed the participants and proposed the vote of thanks. NCC Officer Dr. Manjeet Singh was also present. Manish and his team provided support in conducting the programme. Dean Dr. Vinod Yadav expressed his gratitude to Dr. Jain for his valuable contribution and guidance.