Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: The level of ground water is going down with each passing day and there is a need to conserve water resources so that our future generations don’t get deprived of this vital natural resource.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sukhnandan Kumar said this while addressing the gathering during an awareness camp on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) organised by Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control department at RS Pura today.
“Soch Badlegi Tou Desh Badlega” was the theme of the programme which was organized in collaboration with National Development Foundation (NDF).
MLA RS Pura Gagan Bhagat, MLA Suchetgarh Sham Lal Choudhary, Executive Director CCDU Rajiv Malhotra, Chief Executive Officer NDF Rajiv Khajuria, SDM RS Pura Deep Raj besides ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, sarpanches, panches and officers of concerned departments participated in the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister appealed the people to refrain from throwing garbage in the canals as this makes water unsuitable for drinking and de-silting of canals become difficult for executing agencies.
He asked the people to consume pure drinking water to keep themselves away from deadly diseases including Diarrhoea, Hepatitis-A, Cholera, Malaria and other infectious diseases. It is the responsibility of citizens to conserve water and not to pollute the water resources, he added.
During the programme, people were informed about various ways of conserving water and using it judiciously. They were asked to refrain from open defecation and construct toilets at their homes for which government is providing Rs 12,000 to each household under Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.
The message of saving water was given through cultural programmes and short films which were appreciated by the audience.