A one day workshop was today conducted by District Administration Budgam in collaboration with J&K Pollution Control Committee and Forest department on “Brief Document & Management Action Plan for Rejuvenation of water bodies”. Addressing the workshop, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, S F Hamid said, 'We should involve people to save these water bodies, and with their active participation these waters bodies can be saved”.
He said District Administration Budgam is keen towards sustainable, eco-friendly development and added that development and environment should work hand in hand to protect Nature and Natural resources. He said sources are there but we need to make efforts to save our water bodies and Mother Nature. He further added that District Administration is keen and has a cordially approach towards long term sustainable development.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Budgam, Dr. Nasir said that for sustainable development in today’s world, one should focus more on conservation and preservation of aquatic biodiversity. He said there is a dire need to save our aquatic fauna and flora, these wetlands play a pivotal role in human existence and now responsibility is on us to save this fauna and flora.
ADC in his welcome address highlighted the importance of Narkara Namblinala which will be a notified wetland and is about 2,333 hectares of land.Various other officers and scientists of departments were present in the workshop, and delivered their presentations.Dr. Shabir Ahamad Scientist E while presenting his presentation, too highlighted about conservation of these biomes. He highlighted about issues of waste and its management.
Senior Wildlife Warden, Dr. Rashid Naqash while addressing said that about 17 sustainable goals charted down by UNO are focussed on active use of wetlands with naturally available resources.In the workshop Dr. Tasneem Keng Scientist H while presenting her presentation said there are 3,754 wetlands in J&K in total and 5 Ramsar sites in J&K.
She highlighted the importance of Narkara Namblinala wetland and showed the real work to be done by District Administration Budgam. In the Workshop Nuzhat Qureshi ACD Budgam apprised the audiences about achievements of Rural development department in preservation and conversation of water bodies.
She said under NGT there are 211 old water bodies/springs, 73 ponds and has taken up 11 soil conservation works. ACD apprised the audience that 51 Amrit Sarovar’ are taken up by RDD Budgam so as to save water and water bodies.
Secretary Forest Department, Narinder Singh Bali while addressing said real rejuvenation and restoration of water is need of hour and every stakeholder should come forward to save and preserve this natural resource.
He said we should shift to organic farming and involve local people as much as we can.He said there is no development without the active participation of masses.Besides, ADC, Senior Wildlife Warden , Scientists, ACD , DFO other wild life wardens, DIO and other officers of District Administration were present in the Workshop.