Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today urged the people to assist the government in its initiatives of saving water and keeping the water resources clean.“Water conservation without the involvement of masses is not possible”, the Minster said adding that there is a need that people start developing water saving habits and refrain from throwing garbage in the water bodies.The Minster said this after flagging off 5 km long ‘Big Jammu Run - Run to Save Water’ from Gulshan Ground here this morning.The Minister exhorted the participants of ‘Big Jammu Run’ to become leaders of change and spread the message of saving water in the society. We must take a pledge today to conserve as much water as we can and guide others to follow, he added.Minister of State for PHE, I&FC Sayeed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi, in his address, said the government is taking one step after the other for providing safe and clean drinking water to the people of the State.
Many new Water Supply Schemes are being established in rural and far-flung areas of the State at a tremendous pace for the benefit of common masses, he added.He further said, “It is the duty of every citizen to save this scarce natural resource for future generations.”Child artist of ‘Dangal’ movie fame Zaira Wasim, daughter of the soil who played the childhood role of Geeta Phogat, also insisted on the importance of saving water and expressed her concern over the fact that using water injudiciously would lead to a big crisis soon. Pertinently, ‘Big Jammu Run - Run to save Water’ was an initiative of Communication & Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), Department of PHE, I&FC and supported by Big 92.7 FM.Later, the Minister felicitated the winners of lucky draw including Abdul Hamid, Shakti Kumar and Tushar Saroch. The message of ‘saving water’ was spread through various scintillating performances viz. Zumba performance by Shape n Smile and Body Engineers Fitness Centre, musical show by Tansen Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, dramatic plays by Rangyug and students of Jodhamal Public School.People hailing from all parts of Jammu besides officers and jawans of Indian Army, Air Force, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP), Indian Reserve Police (IRP), professional athletes, sportspersons, senior citizens, school and college students participated in the run.Commissioner Secretary, PHE, I&FC Department Sanjeev Verma, IGP, Jammu Danesh Rana, Secretary, J&K State Sports Council Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, Chief Engineer, PHE Sushil Aima, Chief Engineer, I&FC Rajiv Gandotra, Chief Engineer, Ravi-Tawi Irrigation Complex H C Jerath, Executive Director, CCDU Rajeev Malhotra and other officers of PHE, I&FC Department were also present on the occasion.