Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has a campaign will be launched enlising greater public participation for the conservation of ponds and water resources across the state. He said that efforts will be made to get ponds of Indore and other wetland areas designated as Ramsar sites.
Dr. Mohan Yadav India's philosophy holds that all creatures, rivers, mountains and hills are manifestation of Almighty. He said that Nobel laureate late Hargobind Khurana proved that plants have life. It is a common belief in India that trees and plants too have life. Today we have enough scientific evidence. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav was addressing a programme organized at Ramsar Site Sirpur in Indore on World Wetlands Day 2024.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav inaugurated an exhibition of various materials and products obtained from the wetlands and appreciated outstanding work in the field. He expressed concern that natural resources got polluted. Sirpur pond, built 300 years ago in Indore, was supplying drinking water. Following change in lifestyle household wastes have polluted many water resources resulting in ecological imbalances besides threatening trees, plants and birds. The water resources need to be conserved at all cost. Yashwant Sagar was already a Ramsar site and Sirpur got second. Now efforts for Indore to be designated as Ramsar City are a welcome step.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that conservation of water resources will improve the ponds in and around Indore also improve water quality of Kshipra river. Increasing misuse of water is a matter of grave concern. He expressed the need for a coordinated action plan of concerned departments with public participation. The state government will extend all possible support to Ramsar Secretariat for pond conservation.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav released books including journey of Wetland Conservation in India, a booklet focussing on Ramsar Sites of India and Botanical Survey of Indian Floral Documentary of Ramsar Sites, a guide on wetland maintenance.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also digitally released the Wetland Amrit Dharohar and training material for wetland guides. He also released the teaser of the film festival to be held on the theme Wetlands for Life. A street play on positive attitude towards wetlands was presented by the children of Baloda Bazaar, Chhattisgarh.
Minister for Urban Administration Kailash Vijayvargiya said that respect for wells, ponds and water resources have been a part of India's culture. He said that awareness towards conservation of water resources. Prime Minister Modi's vision has changed people’s outlook. There is a need to encourage public participation in the conservation of water resources. Indore has become a clean city. Indore gets recognized as a wetland city. Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat said that whatever Indore does is known the nationwide. Indore will also set an example in conservation of ponds.
Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of Ramsar Secretariat, said that there were only two Ramsar sites in India in 1982, but the number has increased to 80. The ongoing work to conserve water and save biodiversity in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is commendable and inspiring. Soon Indore will be known as Ramsar City.
More than 200 experts, Environment and Forest Minister Nagar Singh Chauhan, Minister of State for Environment and Forest Dilip Ahirwar, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, local MLA Malini Gaur and officials of all the state wetland authorities of the country, scientists and managers of Ramsar sites across the country were present.
