April 28: Today, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Union Cabinet Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources, Government of India, Inaugurated a ‘Rain Water Harvesting’ structure in Government Middle School, Sector 46D, Chandigarh. Around 1000 School students were also present on the occasion. The programme was organized by Yuvsatta (an NGO) with help of Department of Environment, Department of Education, Chandigarh Administration and WAPCOS Limited, New Delhi.
In his welcoming speech Santosh Kumar, Director, Department of Environment and Conservator of Forests said that to ensure greater involvement of students and teachers side by side of this Rain Water Harvesting Project a 15 days long ‘Water Conservation Fortnight’ was also organized with involvement of over 50,000 School students, 120 Eco Clubs and NGO Yuvsatta, to raise awareness on conservation of ‘Water-the elixir of life’.
SK Ahuja, GM, WAPCOS Limited shared that there company had supported Yuvsatta an NGO which had got constructed ten such Rain Water Harvesting structures and organized ‘Water Conservation Awareness Programmes’ at cost of Rs. 22.4 lacs in Government Schools of the city.
Addressing the gathering the Chief Guest Pawan Kumar Bansal emphasized that as demand for water has never been as great as it is today, and it will only increase due to population growth and mobility. With increasing shortages, good governance and judicious use of water is more than ever essential for water management. And they should help raise awareness for minimizing wastage of water. He further said that our small steps can bring a big change like closing the tap while washing dishes, brushing, shaving and using a mug for small needs instead of using the flush every time, which can waste upto 10-15 liters of drinking water. He was of the view that young people’s active involvement as ‘Agents of Change’ can make big differences.
For promoting the water conservation awareness, on the occasion Pawan Kumar Bansal also honoured Principals of ten local Schools along with Santosh Kumar, IFS, Conservator of Forests & Director, Department of Environment and Science & Technology, Chandigarh Administration, Chanchal Singh, Dy. Director, Department of Education, Chandigarh Administration, Dr. AC Vaid, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Appejay Satya University, SK Ahuja, General Manager, WAPCOS Limited and Dainik Bhasker Foundation.
Ten Schools whose head were honoured today for water conservation programme in their Schools include Suman Lata Sharma, Headmistress, Government High School, Sector 47, Harprakash Kaur, Headmistress, Government High School, Sector 40, Indu Bala Dutt, Principal, Government Model High School, Vikas Nagar, Narinder Shastri, Vice Principal, Government Sr. Sec. School, Kaimbwala, Supinder Singh, Headmaster, Government Middle School, Maloya Colony, Lakhwinder Kumar, Headmaster, Government High School, Sarangpur, Government Model Sr. Sec. School, Sarangpur, Satpal Singh, Headmaster, Government High School, Sector 11, Sarita Arora, Headmistress, Government High School, Sector 32 and Ram Singh Sandhu, Headmaster of Government Middle School, Sector 46D, Chandigarh.