A.P. govt. opens ‘net-zero’ residential school at Kuntamukkala near Vijayawada

The Andhra Pradesh government, in collaboration with Heartfulness, an educational and volunteer-based non-profit organisation, launched a Net-Zero Residential School, a pilot project, at the A.P. Social Welfare Residential School at Kuntamukkala in Krishna district on Wednesday.

Participating in the programme, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath said the initiative would result in vast ecosystems across Andhra Pradesh being cared for by students. “Nurturing a sense of responsibility towards nature at an early age will prepare them to become environmentally conscious future leaders,” he said.

The pilot project aims to serve as a scalable model of an Integrated Ecological Campus, which will include green belts, a rainforest, wetlands, and microgreens, thereby closing the Net-Zero loop. It seeks to create an environment conducive to learning while grooming students to take responsibility for ecology through student-led green governance, with scope for scaling across Andhra Pradesh.

Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Venkata Krishna Prasad said this pilot project will have a ripple effect throughout the state by introducing the Net-Zero concept in residential schools

NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha said there is immense learning involved in this project, as it grooms the students to become responsible citizens

APSWREIS secretary Prasanna Venkatesh said the seven-year project aims to achieve negative carbon emissions, improve soil health and biodiversity, and reduce freshwater usage. “When sustainability becomes a way of life in residential schools, it becomes a lifelong habit,” he said.

Chairman, Forests by Heartfulness Ramakantha and Director, Forests by Heartfulness Saravanan Subramanian were also present. A mass plantation drive, with green enthusiasts coming together, marked the event.