Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2: The World Wetlands Day was organized by the J&K Wildlife Protection Department at Surinsar here today.
The celebration of this day is a regular annual feature to raise awareness about the values of wetlands for humanity and the planet.
The theme of this World Wetlands Day was ‘Wetlands and Climate Change’.
The Surinsar-Mansar Wetlands are one of the four designated Ramsar sites in the Jammu and Kashmir state and are part of Mansar-Surinsar Wildlife Sanctuary notified under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act 1978.
An impressive gathering of school children, teachers, local residents of Surinsar-Mansar and adjoining villages,HoDs, officers and staff of Wildlife, Forest, Enviornment and Ecology, Social Forestry and SFRI,PCB, Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority, Education and other Departments took part in the event.
The Commissioner/ Secretary Forest Department, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi was the chief guest on the occasion, while Ravi Kumar Kesar,(HoFF) Chairman State Pollution Control Board was the guest of honour.
The event was organized by the Wildlife Protection Department under supervision of Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden J&K.
A large gathering of participants led by Commissioner Secretary Forest Department Manoj Kumar made a round of the Surinsar lake in the form of a human chain. The children chanting slogans pledged for conservation and protection of wetlands.
Earlier,Tahir Shawl, Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu presented welcome addres.
The chief guest while addressing the participants stressed that development should not be at the cost of conservation of mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and eco systems, adding that our approach should be result oriented focusing on desired targets and eco-friendly approach was required while taking up developmental activities.
Ravi Kumar Kesar, Suresh Chugh, Suresh Kumar Gupta and Naginder Singh Jamwal also spoke on the occasion.
The others who spoke on the occasion included Advocate Subash Singh Jamwal, a local resident and prominent social activist, BL Parimo, President Environment Awareness Forum.
The Wildlife Warden Kathua, Dr Rajan Singh presented the vote of thanks, while Neeraj Barru, Range Officer Mansar-Surinsar coordinated the event.
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