Dr. Abdul Salam Mohammed, the pioneering CEO of Markaz Knowledge City in Kerala, India, has been awarded the prestigious WWMI Global Excellence Award in Resource Recovery for his transformative work in sustainable rural development. The honour, presented by Commissioner Sharon Waller of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, recognised Dr. Mohammed’s success in converting a once-neglected rural hamlet into India’s leading model urban eco-system.

The award was announced during an international conference hosted by the World Water Management Institute (WWMI) at the University of Illinois, where Dr. Mohammed’s project was lauded as a “roadmap for the world.” His work has not only garnered global attention but also earned national recognition, with Markaz Knowledge City receiving the 2025 Sustainable Green Smart City Award from the Government of India. Additionally, the project’s case study was presented at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva during the 22nd International Conference on Sustainable Development.

Under Dr. Mohammed’s leadership, the once-barren land has been revitalised into a vibrant, eco-smart township powered by solar energy, featuring integrated rainwater harvesting, zero-waste management, and green mobility solutions. “We prove that villages can lead India’s green revolution,” Dr. Mohammed declared upon receiving the award.

A Global Movement Begins: The Rural Development Alliance

Building on this success, WWMI has launched the Rural Development Alliance (RDA), a global initiative aimed at transforming impoverished villages into self-sustaining “smart villages.” The program will initially focus on three pilot locations—two in India (Pedda Karampalli and Puthuppadi) and one in Thailand (Na Phiang)—with Dr. Mohammed leading the Kerala project.

“Why should villagers live with disease and pollution while cities have all the technology?” asked Sam Pappu, President of WWMI. “We’re connecting these communities to simple, scalable solutions—clean water, waste management, and renewable energy—on their own terms.”

In Puthuppadi, Kerala, Dr. Mohammed will implement innovative waste and water management systems, replicating the success of Markaz Knowledge City. Meanwhile, Pedda Karampalli will receive sanitation upgrades to protect drinking water, and Na Phiang, Thailand, will adopt eco-friendly farming solutions to combat pollution.

Sunnyvale, Texas: A Meeting of Sustainable Minds

Just days before receiving the WWMI award, Dr. Mohammed visited Sunnyvale, Texas, a town celebrated for its eco-conscious urban planning, to exchange ideas with Mayor Saji George. The two leaders, both former scientists (Dr. Mohammed at ISRO, Mayor George in aerospace engineering), discussed strategies for sustainable governance, revenue generation, and community-focused development.

“Sunnyvale’s commitment to putting people and the planet first, even at the cost of lucrative projects, is truly inspiring,” Dr. Mohammed remarked. His own Markaz Knowledge City, designed for a similar population size, mirrors Sunnyvale’s ethos, integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its framework.

A Scientist with a Mission

Dr. Mohammed’s journey—from a humble village upbringing to advising global sustainability projects in India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—exemplifies his unwavering commitment to social and environmental progress. A lifelong admirer of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, he has dedicated his career to tackling poverty, education gaps, and water scarcity through science and innovation.

Now, as he leads the Rural Development Alliance and expands his eco-smart model, Dr. Mohammed’s vision is clear: “Rural communities don’t need charity—they need opportunity. And sustainability is that opportunity.”

With Markaz Knowledge City serving as a global benchmark, and the RDA poised to replicate its success worldwide, Dr. Abdul Salam Mohammed is proving that the future of development lies not in sprawling metropolises, but in empowered, green villages.