SRINAGAR: Jal Shakti Department today organized a day-long workshop on “Source Sustainability with special emphasis on Spring Rejuvenation” in collaboration with Piramal Foundation at the Institute of Hotel Management Srinagar.
The event brought together leading experts from government, academia, and social organizations who presented and discussed research on source sustainability, spring rejuvenation, and water quality among other issues. The aim of the workshop was to sensitize the need for emerging water problems and frame strategies to overcome those.
During the workshop, there was broad consensus among the speakers that ‘Source Sustainability and spring rejuvenation’ is one of the biggest challenges faced by today’s society, and the solutions to achieve sustainability need to be designed from a holistic, cross-disciplinary point of view.
The speakers were of the view that by encouraging public participation in projects that impact society, it facilities fair, equitable, and sustainable outcomes with a force to transform communities.
In his address, Mission Director Jal Jeevan Mission, G N Itoo said that Source Sustainability is a prime concern for all of us. He said that JK is blessed with lots of springs but there are challenges for which we have to find solutions through collective efforts.
Maintaining that water is a social enterprise, MD said that it is closely linked with people’s identity and there is a need for community involvement for gainful results. He said that role of an engineer is very limited in the sustainability process and it is not possible unless every person in the community owns the process. He said that we have a mandate and responsibility to sensitize our community to make them think like an engineer. He said that the rejuvenation of springs is only possible when the whole community is ready to take a role and own the responsibilities.
Sangeeta Mamgain from Parimal Foundation in her keynote address said that source sustainability is going to be one of the primary concerns and there is a need to work on that. She said that the Parimal Foundation will always be ready to provide the technical support needed by the JJM in JK.
The workshop discussed issues related to the sustainable development of springs and strategies for their renovation, rejuvenation, and augmentation. With short but penetrating lightning talks, the workshop participants triggered important questions and points related to spring rejuvenation which resulted in a lively and fruitful discussion.
Dr Samiulla Bhat shared his experiences of 20 years working on springs in Kashmir valley. Dr D S Bisht from the National Institute of Hydrology Jammu gave a presentation on “Springing into Action: NIHs journey & Innovation in Springshed Management”.
In his virtual address Abhishek Likam, from CHIRAG gave a presentation on “Socio-Hydrogeological approach to Springshed Management: Experiences in the Himalayan context”. Asad Umar from Aga Khan Foundation spoke on spring shed Management to ensure drinking water security in the hilly regions of India.
Chief Engineer PWD Kashmir/Jammu, Chief Engineer I&FC, Bhawna Badola (Piramal Foundation) among others also spoke on the occasion.
