By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 16 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a program organized on the theme of ‘Water Conservation and Rejuvenation of Water Streams’ at International Cricket Stadium, Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur on Harela festival.
After the programme, the Chief Minister planted saplings. He also honored schools and forest panchayats who have made commendable efforts towards environmental protection.
The Chief Minister greeted the people of the state on the Harela festival and wished everyone a bright future. He said that the Harela festival is a symbol of happiness, prosperity, peace, environment and nature conservation.
Harela festival is a festival of social harmony and also an indicator of season change. This day is a day to remember the co-existence of nature and humans and to reiterate our vow to conserve nature. Uttarakhand is a naturally rich state. Harela is one such festival, which deepens our closeness to nature.
He said that everyone should take a pledge that by preserving the natural heritage, we will give a clean environment to future generations. This time the theme of the Harela festival in the state is water conservation and revival of water streams. He appealed to everyone to contribute towards water conservation and promotion.
Chief Minister Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government has laid great emphasis on the circular economy which also has a big role in the field of water conservation, when treated water is reused and freshwater is conserved, the entire ecosystem will be greatly benefited.
He said that the summer flow of non-snow rivers of the state has remained very less, the main reason for which is climate change. If the requirement of water is calculated in the drinking water sector alone in Uttarakhand, then the potential water demand for the year 2052 is around 1980 MLD, which is about 23 cumecs. Relative to the demand in the state, the demand based on natural sources is 70 percent, which is about 1400 MLD. The works of spring shed source rejuvenation, catchment area, source sustainability, chal-khal, check dam, contour trench, etc. are being done by many departments, which have yielded good results. In such a situation, there is a need to work by preparing a model plan for the entire state. Industry and agriculture are two such areas, in which the need for water is high, both these areas will have to run water conservation campaigns together and people will have to be made aware.
Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the major development schemes being implemented in the country for the last 9 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all of them, in one way or the other, have an appeal for environmental protection as well as water conservation. Be it the Swachh Bharat Mission or programs related to Waste to Health, the construction of modern sewage treatment plants in cities under the AMRUT Mission, the campaign to get rid of single-use plastic or the Ganga cleanliness campaign under Namami Gange Abhiyan. Our country’s efforts in the field of environmental protection and water conservation have been multifaceted. In the direction of water conservation, Amrit Sarovar has been started across the country by the Prime Minister. Under the Amrit Sarovar Yojana, dilapidated ponds are being revived by renovating them at district level, city and rural areas.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said that a target has been set to plant 8 lakh saplings in the state this year on the occasion of the Harela festival. This campaign will run till August 15. Along with tree plantation, special attention will be paid to their conservation. The Forest Inspector of the sector will be honored in which the success rate of trees will be the highest. On August 15, 75 trees each will be planted in 1750 villages. The Forest Minister said that special attention will also have to be paid to the revival of water sources. He appealed to all the people of the state that everyone will have to work unitedly for the protection of the environment. He appealed to plant saplings and to post selfies with plants so that we can tell our future generations what contribution we have made towards environmental protection.
Member of Parliament Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Chief Conservator of Forests (Half) Anoop Malik and senior officers of Forest Department were present during the programme.
