Hyderabad, 30 January 2026: KL Deemed to be University has been declared the winner in the Water Stewardship category at the 1st Edition of the CII–SR Industrial Climate Action Competition. The award was presented by the Confederation of Indian Industry – Southern Region (CII–SR) during the 2nd Edition of the Energy Transition Summit held on 30 January 2026 in Chennai. The competition recognised institutions that have demonstrated measurable impact in climate action and sustainability initiatives.
Commander Gurumoorthy Gangadharan, Senior Director – Planning & Development, and Dr. Kanneganti Jyothishya Brahma Chari, Associate Dean – Planning & Development at KLEF, received the award at the summit’s prize distribution ceremony. The recognition highlights the university’s commitment to implementing innovative water management solutions on campus.
The university was honoured for its integrated, technology-driven water stewardship model based on the 4R framework of Reduce, Recharge, Recycle, and Reuse. The campus operates a 2,180 KLD wastewater recycling system that meets over 54 percent of its total water demand. Advanced sewage treatment technologies such as MBBR and ARBiT have significantly improved water recovery efficiency from 53 percent to 74 percent.
Groundwater sustainability at the campus is enhanced through 32 rainwater harvesting pits with a recharge capacity of approximately 3.7 lakh litres per day. These initiatives, combined with real-time water monitoring systems and efficient irrigation methods, have delivered substantial results. The university has achieved a 54 percent reduction in building water consumption and 42 percent savings in landscape irrigation.
The campus maintains a green cover exceeding 10.6 lakh square feet, demonstrating the effectiveness of its water management strategies. The recognition followed a rigorous evaluation process that assessed innovation, strategic alignment, measurable environmental impact, implementation effectiveness, and scalability potential of the submitted projects.
Er. Koneru Satyanarayana, President of KL Deemed to be University, commented on the achievement. “At KL, sustainability is embedded in the way we plan and operate our campuses. Water stewardship is central to our vision of future-ready education, where environmental responsibility and academic excellence progress together. This recognition reinforces our commitment to building resilient, self-sustaining campuses that serve as models of responsible development,” he said.
The honour adds to the university’s strong record of national recognition for environmental leadership. The institution has previously received awards from bodies such as the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Water Digest, CII–SR, and AICTE. These accolades reflect the university’s consistent efforts in sustainable campus development.
With multiple recognitions from leading national and international organisations, KL Deemed to be University continues to set benchmarks in sustainable and climate-resilient campus development. The university’s water stewardship model demonstrates how educational institutions can play a significant role in addressing environmental challenges through innovative and scalable solutions.
