PAU experts call for judicious use of water on World Water Day
In a joint effort to tackle the urgent global problem of water scarcity and its effects on peace and sustainability, the Department of Soil and Water Engineering at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) marked World Water Day 2024 in collaboration with the Soil Water Engineering Club and the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), Chapter PAU, Ludhiana.
Dr. Manav Indra Singh Gill, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, who served as the chief guest, stressed the importance of conserving water at the household level. He encouraged students to pursue innovative research in water conservation and raise awareness in society.
Dr. JP Singh, the Department Head, extended a warm welcome to the esteemed guests, speakers, and participants, setting the stage for an insightful discussion on the theme “Leveraging Water for Peace.”
Dr. Rajesh Vashisth, Former Director of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, provided valuable insights into policy frameworks for water resource management. He expressed concerns about declining reservoir capacities like Bhakra Dam and the increase in intense flooding events due to climate change. Dr. Vashisth also emphasized the urgent need for a robust regulatory framework to ensure the judicious use of water resources.
Er. Lupinder Kumar, Sub Divisional Soil Conservation Officer from Jalandhar, highlighted the efforts of the Soil Water Conservation Department in promoting water conservation. He mentioned various initiatives such as the establishment of village ponds, laying of underground pipelines, implementation of micro-irrigation, and sewage treatment projects in Punjab.
Mohinder Singh Dosanjh, a progressive farmer, emphasized the importance of learning from countries like Israel about efficient water utilization. He expressed concerns about glacier melting and called for substantial discussions and collaborative efforts towards water conservation.
Er. Gurmangal Dass, President of the Youth Football Club in Rurkan Kalan, shared innovative community-based approaches for water conservation. The event also featured thematic poster presentations and rangoli by postgraduate students of the department.
Dr. Samanpreet Kaur led a pledge-taking ceremony, urging all participants to commit to water conservation and reducing their water footprint.
Dr. Jugraj Singh, Principal Scientist in Soil and Water Engineering, expressed gratitude for the participants’ invaluable contributions to promoting water sustainability and peace.
The event was moderated by Dr. Nilesh Biwalkar, Professor of Soil and Water Engineering at PAU.
