Visakhapatnam: As part of World Water Protection Week, drawing, painting and essay writing competitions were conducted on the topic “Water is Life” at Public Library here on Sunday by AP Pollution Control Board, NGO Samaikya and Green Environment Service Society. About 140 students from various schools participated in the contests.
Prizes and participation certificates of these events will be given on March 22 at YVS Murthy Auditorium near AU Engineering College grounds where a meeting will be held by the APPCB on World Water Day. Various activities began for the “World Water Protection Week” from March 15 at Andhra University.
“From March 16 to March 20, the awareness programmes were conducted in six primary schools, seven high schools and various departments in the Andhra University. The students were made aware of depleting groundwater levels and importance for rainwater harvesting and conservation of natural water sources,” said AP Pollution Control Board senior environmental engineer Sriram Murthy.
Volunteers of India Youth For Society display placards as they take part in an awareness programme on water, on the Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. (Photo: DC)
Water is the most essential and fastest depleting natural resource on the planet. The water sources both on land and underground are seriously on the edge of contamination due to severe pollution and land use. As per the statistics of UN, there are 276 rivers that are going to dry up any moment.
“Rain harvesting pits must be dug and every raindrop should be stored in the ground. Protection of forests, wetlands and riversides with natural ecosystems will increase the ground and surface water-levels. Minimising water use helps to preserve freshwater habitats,” he said.
AP Pollution control board Senior Environmental Engineer Srirammurthy, Environmental Engineer M. Lakshmi Narayana, Samaikya President A.S.N. Raju, Green Environment Service Society President V.V.Sirisha , G. Naga Murali, Yamuna and Environmental Film Society members G. Devi Prasad, N. Aditya Madhav, J. Katyayini carried out these World Water Protection Week events.
