From Our Correspondent
TURA, March 22: The World Water Day was observed in multiple districts of Garo Hills with a spate of events to commemorate the day.
In Tura, West Garo Hills, a programme was organised on the theme ‘Water for Peace’ by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department in collaboration with the District Administration.
Addressing the programme, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani emphasised the importance of water, while urging everyone to take steps for water conservation in future. He mentioned that earlier only the urban areas would be connected with the tap water, but after the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, almost 70-80 per cent of the households are now connected with tap water, even in rural areas.
Stating that water is life and a basic necessity for everyone, he said conservation of water by ground water recharge and making it sustainable is necessary at this juncture. He also urged everyone to install rainwater harvesting in their homes and institutions.
During the programme, a panel discussion was also conducted where the Superintending Engineer, Tura Circle-cum-Member Secretary, JJM, WGH, Ambrose D Sangma, initiated the discussion and explained in detail about the theme of the World Water Day.
Earlier during the function, balloons were also released by the chief guest to commemorate the celebration and demonstration of World Water Day and Model Exhibition.
Prior to the World Water Day, about six events, consisting of a 10-km marathon, folk song competition, essay competition, comic strip competition, painting, and video and story-telling competitions were conducted for various schools and colleges of the area.
The winners of various competitions held prior to the World Water Day observance, which was followed by Model Exhibition, were also felicitated.
The district of North Garo Hills also joined in the worldwide observance of World Water Day, with a programme, which was observed by the department of Public Health Engineering, DWSM, JJM, RWS Division, Resubelpara, at Mendipathar Cooperative Society Hall on Friday.
A series of programmes marking to spread the awareness on the importance of water were held throughout the area. A cycle rally campaign was one such event that disseminated the significance of the programme, which was undertaken by a group of cycle enthusiasts called A∙we Pedallers.
In the field of operations and maintenance under Jal Jeevan Mission, Kontolguri Songma VWSC was adjudged the best-performing Village Water & Sanitation Committee.
North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Tennystar R Marak, while addressing the gathering as the chief guest, called for collective efforts for preservation of water by initiating effective measures to check water sustainability.
“As compared to the rest of the country, our area has an abundance of water resources but unscrupulous, unchecked usage of water could one day bring the inevitable fate of water crisis as is going on in major towns and cities” said Marak.
He reiterated that a collective cooperation from all stakeholders, be it individual or community, needs to come in place for the preservation of water for the future generations.
PHE Executive Engineer Sokima Najiar, in his address, spoke about the pressing issues of water crisis all around the world and opined that an amicable solution to resolve water crisis by protecting, conserving and sharing water be dispersed in the minds of all individuals, thereby using water as a tool for peace.
The status of the implementation of JJM in the district was also highlighted wherein the DPM, DPMU Silgrak Sangma, informed that the district stands at 82.16 per cent in terms of tap water connection.