District Development Commissioner, Reasi Ravinder Kumar today inaugurated a three day workshop cum training of Integrated Watershed Development Programme, Reasi.Presently six projects covering an area of 22954 hectares have been taken up in the district under the IWMP.The training programme is joint effort of the IWMP, Reasi, Department of Rural and Panchayati Raj and SKUAST. The workshop would be conducted under the guidance of senior scientist, SKUAST-Jammu Er. N.K.Gupta- one of the senior most resource persons in the field of watershed management.Project Manager, IWMP Vivek Phonsa, DLTE Dr. Nasir Hafiz, Chairman, Secretary and members of different watershed committees under IWMP of the district and members of Water shed Development Team were present on the occasion.
While interacting with the committee members, the District Development Commissioner highlighted the importance of water and soil conservation and called for efficient utilization of the available water sources. He said that keeping in view the fast depleting water sources in the region need of the hour is to save every drop of water and promote rainwater harvesting in a big way. “In our district we have made rain water harvesting mandatory in Katra and Reasi and no building permission is allowed by the Municipality unless the building has proper rainwater harvesting facility,” he added.Ravinder further emphasized on undertaking plantation drives in the district which can go a long way in soil and water conservation. He said more trees are need of the hour and a tree planted today serves the coming generations.Er. N.K. Gupta shared his experiences with the watershed committee members and enjoined upon them to contribute in the field of watershed management in the district.At the outset, Project Manager gave details of the projects.