Samba : Municipal Council Samba, under the aegis of the District Administration Samba and the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Jammu, on Wednesday organised a one-day awareness programme on the conservation of Water Bodies here at the historic Samba Fort.
The programme was organised with technical support from the National Development Foundation (NDF) Jammu and under the guidance of Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu Kapil Sharma.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 300 individuals, including government officials, civil society representatives, students, teachers and other stakeholders, reflecting a strong collective commitment towards the conservation and protection of traditional water resources.
Deputy Commissioner Rupesh Kumar was the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, he underscored the significance of conserving traditional water bodies and stressed the need for active public involvement, inter-departmental coordination and collective responsibility in safeguarding these vital natural resources.
He sought the cooperation and support of civil society members in protecting water bodies across Samba district. “The conservation of ponds and other traditional water resources requires sustained community involvement, besides concerted efforts by the government departments,” he emphasised.
Chief Executive Officer Municipal Council Jodh Raj delivered the welcome address and highlighted the objectives of the programme. The event was also attended by Additional SP Pradeep Kumar and Tehsildar, Gaurav Sharma along with other officials and representatives.
Earlier, an awareness rally comprising students was taken out to promote water conservation. After marching through different parts of the town, the rally culminated at the Samba Fort.
Honorary Patron National Development Foundation Rajiv Kumar Khajuria delivered the keynote address and sensitised participants about the importance, techniques and methodologies involved in the conservation of water bodies. He called upon citizens, particularly the younger generation, to actively participate in preserving traditional ponds and other natural water resources.
As part of the awareness campaign, Programme Manager, National Development Foundation Sunny Kumar administered a public pledge, encouraging participants to take collective responsibility for protecting and preserving water bodies.
Ajit Kumar and his team presented a special NukkadNatak to sensitise the public about the importance of conserving ponds and traditional water resources. Through an engaging performance, they highlighted the adverse impact of pollution, neglect and encroachment on water bodies and encouraged responsible community practices.
Students from Government Girls Model Higher Secondary School actively participated in a painting competition based on water body conservation, expressing their ideas and concerns through creative artwork. Students from Kushan Public School also delivered speeches highlighting the importance of protecting water resources and encouraging greater community participation in conservation initiatives.
Chief Executive Officer Municipal Council highlighted the role of the Municipal Council in protecting, maintaining and rejuvenating local water bodies. He stressed the importance of regular cleanliness drives, prevention of pollution and encroachment, and coordinated efforts involving government departments and local communities.
He urged residents to take ownership of their local water resources and extend active cooperation to the administration in keeping these water bodies clean, safe and protected. He also expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, participating departments, students, teachers and community members for their valuable presence and support. He acknowledged the technical assistance provided by the National Development Foundation, Jammu, in successfully organising the awareness programme.
The programme concluded with a collective appeal for sustained public participation and coordinated efforts to conserve and rejuvenate water bodies, reinforcing the message that protection of water resources is a shared responsibility of the administration and society.
