Mandi: In a program sponsored by WWF India, Project Office Shimla Centre for Sustainable Development and My Himachal organized various activities in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh on occasion of Water Day. Students of ITI Mandi and MG Institute of Engineering and Technology started the day with cleanliness drive at Hanuman Ghat on the Bank of river beas. This ghat is littered with garbage and has been rendered useless due to construction of Pandoh Dam 20 Km upstream on Beas which has diverted water of river Beas into Sutlej through a canal.
This ghat was earlier an important part of Mandi’s cultural heritage. Thereafter students cleaned Bawris, the traditional sources of drinking water, situated in different parts of the Town. After that students started a Water Walk from Panchvaktra Temple, a historical Shiva temple of town situated on the confluence of river Beas and Suketi. The walk passed through various parts of town and had curious bystanders looking at a new initiative in the town. In the post lunch session a Workshop on Importance of Freshwater Sources was organized which was attended by Officers fro I& PH Deptt., representatives of NGO’s, Municipal Councillors, journalists, teachers and representatives of PRI’s.
Sanjeev Sharma, Sr. Project Officer, WWF India threw light on various conservation activities being carried out by WWF India. He also elaborated about management strategies to be adopted for conservation of freshwater sources. He emphasized the need to conserve our water sources. Jitender Verma, President, Centre for Sustainable Development urged participants to spread awareness about need to conserve environment which is already under heavy stress. He said if we don’t wake up and act now then we will leave barren lands in heritage to our coming generations.
