A course on water management by TERI, Coca-Cola

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) To develop a "globally competitive" cadre of young water management professionals, Coca-Cola and the TERI University have set up an academic department which offers two courses in conserving, managing and efficiently utilizing the country's water resources.

The 'Coca-Cola Department of Regional Water Studies,' inaugurated here Wednesday, will respond to the needs of creating new knowledge and capacity in water related

issues towards a better, holistic approach to water management.

"This initiative is like a golden triangle of government, business and civil society with academia to find solutions to the water management," Deepak Jolly, vice president of Coca-Cola's public affairs and communication in India and southwest Asia, told IANS.

"It is an investment with a vision for the future," he added.

Aspirants can apply for an MTech or MSc programmes in water science and governance, applications for which are open and will be received at The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) campus in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj till June 16.

"India needs to urgently build the capacity to conserve, manage and efficiently utilize all its available water resources, including in the remotest parts of the country and across boundaries," said Leena Srivastava, vice chanceller of TERI University, which was set up in 1998 and granted its present status in 1999.

"The programme aims to safeguard water as a resource and educate students and working professionals in the field of scientific planning, utilizing modern

techniques and analytical capabilities and with innovative projects for water

management," she added.