JU organizes interactive session on “Leveraging Water for Peace”

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu organized an ‘Interactive Session’ on the theme “Leveraging Water for Peace” to mark the celebrations of World Water Day 2024. 

Prof. Piyush Malaviya, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu formally welcomed the experts and briefly introduced the theme of World Water Day. He highlighted the importance of water conservation in our daily lives and stressed on the need for responsible water usage to ensure the sustainability of various water resources.

The first technical session started with an expert lecture by Dr. C.M Seth (IFS), Former Chief Wildlife Warden and former Chairman J&K Pollution Control Board wherein he discussed about the pivotal role played by water resources in water conservation with particular reference to wetlands of Jammu region. “Socio-economic disparities lead to inequitable distribution of water, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and aggravating social tensions. Thus, embracing innovation and adopting sustainable practices in agriculture, industry, and urban development can mitigate water stress and enhance water efficiency”, he said, while discussing the importance of the theme of World Water Day 2024. 

In another technical Session, Prof. A.K. Raina, Former Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu spoke at length about the critical role of water in sustaining life and various challenges being faced in ensuring its quality, accessibility, and equitable distribution. The technical presentations were followed by an interactive session coordinated by Dr. Deepika Slathia. 

Participants actively participated in the session, posing several questions to the experts on a wide array of topics such as regional water issues and traditional conservation measures, community-based conservation initiatives, and policy recommendations for water resources. During the interactions, experts emphasized the importance of innovations, start-ups, and collaborative efforts involving policymakers, scientists, local communities, and environmental organizations to address the multifaceted challenges confronting water resources conservation in the Jammu region. 

The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Deepika Slathia. The programme was attended by Dr. Ravinder Kumar. Dr. Ranjan Sharma, Ms. Rozi, research scholars, and students of the department.