12 Sep : The Directorate of School Education Nagaland in collaboration with BITM Kolkata organized state level science seminar 2008 at Government Higher Secondary School Kohima today the 12th September 2008 under the topic “Water Crisis on Earth: Problem and Remedies” with Minister for Soil & Water Conservation and Land Resources Development Nagaland, P. Longon as the chief guest in the inaugural function.
The chief guest said that mother earth is the only earth God has created as the habitat for mankind and provided adequate life supporting systems including water which is called natural ecosystem. He said water is the basic necessity of every living being on earth without which there is no question of survival.
The Minister said that the world population has tripled since 20th century standing now at nearly six thousand million people. If the present growth rate continue along with longer life span, he said that it is estimated to reach 8.5 billion by the year 2020 and it has been estimated that the amount of water deemed necessary to satisfy basic human need for food, drinking water and hygiene for person on an average is 1000 cubic meters annually by 2050 A.D. He also pointed out some important causes of water crisis and said that the major problem of water crisis is environmental imbalance affecting aquatic ecosystem and dependent species resulting in glacial retreat, habitat, destruction, deforestation cycle.
The Minister stated that the rain water harvesting is required to meet the ever increasing demand of water to reduce the runoff in the drain and to avoid the flooding of roads and augment the ground water storage and control the decline of water levels and to reduce the ground water pollution to improve the quality of ground water and to reduce the soil erosion. The Minister said that the key message send across during the 2nd World water forum was that “Water is everybody’s business”.
The inaugural function was chaired by the Director of School Education, Nipusilie Angami. A total of 12 schools were represented from the 7 district of Nagaland in the state level science seminar 2008. 14 students- 5 boys and 9 girls took part in the state level science competition on water crisis on earth and problem and remedies.
The winners in the state level science seminar will be sent to Kolkata to represent Nagaland in the National Level Science Seminar to be held on 3rd October 2008 at Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, ITA Gurusaday Road, Kolkata.
Ruoguonuo Ruth Vizo of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Kohima stood in the first position securing 73 marks out of 100 and Hongang of St. John School, Aboi bagged the second position securing marks 68.66% and Ryan, Love Dale Higher Secondary School Zunheboto stood in the third place securing 64.66%.
The panel of judges during the competition were Senior Lecturer NCTE, Y. Singh; Lecturer SCERT, Daniel Thong; Senior Government Teacher, Keneingu-u, and V.K. Jha as time keeper in the competition. The closing and prize distribution function was presided over by the District Education Officer, Kohima, V. Meyase and prizes were given away by the Additional Director, School Education, N. Khevito Sema while Phutoli L. Jamir, Deputy Director School Education pronounced the vote of thanks.