Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri (BGSBU) and Public Health Engineering Department, Rajouri today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the leadership of VC BGSBU, Prof. Jawaid Iqbal to jointly implement a social responsibility initiative aimed at providing supplementary potable water through tankers to rural habitations located within a 5-kilometre radius of the University campus.
The MoU was signed by Registrar, BGSBU, Abhishek Sharma on behalf of the University and Sudesh Kumar Bhagat, Executive Engineer, PHE Division Rajouri, on behalf of the PHE Department. Under this collaborative framework, BGSBU will arrange and deploy water tankers with adequate capacity, along with drivers and operators and bear all operational expenses including fuel, maintenance and personnel costs.
The PHE Department will provide technical and logistical guidance, identify beneficiary habitations in consultation with local representatives, conduct periodic quality checks of the supplied water and advise on optimal schedules and routes for tanker operations.
The initiative seeks to address water scarcity challenges in nearby rural areas, particularly during periods of increased demand and reflects the University’s commitment to community welfare and social responsibility. Community liaison and awareness activities will be facilitated through the University’s National Service Scheme (NSS) and/or National Cadet Corps (NCC) wings.
The operational commencement of the water tanker service is scheduled to commence from 18 February 2026 and the MoU will remain valid for a period of one year, with provisions for review, modification, or renewal by mutual consent.
This partnership is expected to significantly improve access to safe and adequate drinking water for residents of surrounding villages and strengthen cooperation between academic institutions and government departments for public welfare.