Jammu : The Environment Information Awareness Capacity building and livelihood (EIACP) Centre J&K Hub, in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Jammu Friday organized a special program to celebrate World Soil Day under the theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.”
The event, attended by faculty and students from Government Women’s College Parade, aimed to raise awareness on how soil health directly influences urban sustainability, environmental resilience and the overall well-being of communities.
At the outset, Director GSI D. Bharti welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of collaborative scientific outreach. This was followed by an address by Director GSI Dr. Vinod Kumar, who elaborated on the role of Geological Survey of India in Jammu & Kashmir, current geological studies and ongoing initiatives. They appreciated the joint effort of EIACP and GSI in making students aware about the critical link between soil health and the sustainability of modern cities.
An insightful expert lecture was delivered by Senior Geologist GSI Mohammad Ibrahim, who explained soil formation processes, types of rocks, and their influence on soil characteristics— providing students with a deep understanding of the geological foundations of soil health.
Coordinator EIACP J&K Dr. Rajan Singh delivered the keynote address. Dr. Singh spoke extensively about the intrinsic relationship between forests and soil stressing how forest ecosystems play a vital role in maintaining soil fertility, structure, and biodiversity. He also highlighted the significance of the Forest Soil Health Card initiative by ICFRE, which helps monitor soil parameters and promotes informed conservation practices.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Kirti Bhatt, Programme Officer, EIACP who expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, experts, faculty and student participants.
Later, faculty and students from Government Women’s College Parade visited the Rock Museum at GSI, where they explored a rich collection of geological specimens and learned about the region’s geological heritage.
The celebration successfully highlighted how maintaining healthy soil is essential for building healthy, resilient and sustainable cities, aligning with this year’s World Soil Day theme
