Assam: Water conservation programme launched in Hailakandi

HAILAKANDI: A district-level programme ‘Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls’ was launched on Wednesday to create awareness on the need for water conservation.

Launching the programme at the Rotary Club premises, District Development Commissioner, Ranajeet Kumar Laskar emphasised on the need to focus on water conservation and rainwater harvesting. Laskar exhorted upon the people to make proper and judicious use of piped water supply for drinking purpose only and not for other purposes.

The District Development Commissioner also underlined the importance of prevention of wastage of water and water pollution for posterity. He said efforts are on at the governmental level for rainwater harvesting in some schools of the district and other water conservation activities as water crisis looms large in urban and rural areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Superintendent, Public Health Engineering Department, Nripendra Kumar Sarma said the level of consciousness has to be raised among the populace on the need to conserve water through rain harvesting, keeping the water bodies free of pollution and proper usage of water. "We have to take all precautionary measures to keep the water bodies free from pollution as degradation is fraught with serious ecological implications posing a serious health hazard," he quipped.

While urging the youth volunteers of different NGOs participating in the programme to play a proactive role in spreading the message of water conservation in their households, neighbourhoods and society at large, Sarma said the need of the hour is to protect the rivers, ponds, wetlands and water bodies from contamination to keep the natural water bodies fresh and intact.

Addressing the youth volunteers, noted writer and journalist, Satananda Bhattacharjee called upon them to put in concerted efforts as water scarcity has hit many parts of the world, including some parts of Hailakandi district and neighbouring Meghalaya.

Stressing on the importance of involving the youngsters in the revolutionary campaign, District Information and Public Relations Officer, Sabir Nishat said water scarcity has affected nearly one million people in India every year and 21 major Indian cities, including the national capital Delhi, are staring at a groundwater scarcity according to a report by NITI Aayog. He said India has freshwater availability of only four per cent though it has a population of 1.3 billion.

"Highest priority has to be accorded to the issue of water conservation and the need of the hour is to adopt an integrated approach towards water management,"  Nishat quipped.

Professor of SK Roy College, Manish Roy said the country is plagued with water shortage with groundwater depletion taking place at two-three meters every year. Professor Roy called for water conservation as a component of urban planning, checking of colossal wastage of the precious resource and proper usage.

District Youth Coordinator, NYKS, Kalpana Gangopadhyay said the basic objective of the programme is educating the youths and volunteers from youth clubs on the need of water conservation through rainwater harvesting, minimising wastage and reuse of water. "We have to empower the youths so that they can act as a catalytic agent for educating people to practice rain water harvesting," added Gangopadhyay.

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She revealed that the programme will be implemented in 50 villages, 10 each under five development blocks of the district.

Gangopadhyay said the National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports launched the 'JSA II: Catch the Rain' awareness generation campaign on December 21 last.

It may be mentioned that as a preparatory phase of JSA-II, the Ministry has involved NYKS for undertaking ‘Catch the Rain’ awareness campaign covering 623 districts.

At the programme, District Development Commissioner, Laskar and other dignitaries also distributed certificates of Swacch Bharat Summer Internship 2.0 to the state level winner Native Pride Club, Rongpur and to Friends Club, Monipur and Tribal Woman Youth Club for second and third positions at the district level.

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