By Shweta Tyagi Executive Secretary India Water Foundation
[L to R: Mr. J G Patel Scientist SAC Ahmedabad, Dr. Anil Joshi Founder HESCO, Shri Surendra Singh Negi Hon’ble Uttarakhand Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. M M Kimothi Director USAC, Dr. P S Gusain Secretary Department of Science & Technology Uttarakhand, Dr. Arvind Kumar President India Water Foundation New Delhi, and Mr. Anand Sharma Executive Director Dehradun Meteorological Centre Uttarakhand]
Releasing the atlas, Uttarakhand Minister of Science and Technology Surendra Singh Negi said Wetland Atlas had come out as an important document that could go a long way in tacking the water problems of the state.He disclosed that he was very hopeful of full support from Centre towards conservation of wetlands and also overcoming water crisis in Uttarakhand.
Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) founder Anil Joshi said nature has always been worshiped by mankind since ages. He said climate change today has affected forest and water the most. He said water crisis today has become a major issue and water linked dispute has now turned from village-level challenge to a global challenge.
Anil Joshi reminded that science and tradition need to be amalgamated to get desirous results. “Even science alone can’t help us much in case of conservation of forests, and water and traditions that once ensured conservation of water need to be understood,” he pointed out.
India Water Foundation President Dr. Arvind Kumar stressed that “This wetlands at least will help and designing social and resource management planning which is a tool for futuristic cooperation. Since wetland are critical for human sustenance and well being for drinking water, food, livelihood, irrigation hydroelectricity and scenic beauty. This is a base line study and a bench mark which highlights results for Uttarakhand State and hopes to improve our understanding of the dynamics and distribution of wetlands and their status”.
Dehradun Meteorological Centre’s Executive Director Anand Sharma said by coming up with a Wetland Atlas, Uttarakhand Space Application Centre has set up a benchmark and come up with a much needed baseline data on wetlands in Uttarakhand. Referring to level of corruption in the country, Dr Sharma reminded that a total of 14 major rivers of the country today stand polluted.
Earlier, USAC director MM Kimothi referred to the efforts undertaken by USAC towards coming up with Wetland Atlas for the state. State Application Centre, Ahemdabad, Scientist JG Patel spoke on this occasion.
