Water Conservation: Youth Army Gets Ready To Preserve Rivers Across The India!

When President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated India Water Week on November 1 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, by filling water in small pots, it was more than a formality to send a message to the whole country and the world that Even small efforts to conserve water are important for filling the gorges and oceans.

The youth army is getting ready to preserve the rivers across the country. From the panchayat to the state level, youth are being connected who will protect rivers, ponds, puddles etc. Along with this, work will also be done to revive these water sources. These youths will also fight a legal battle to raise their voice against and stop the disputes between the states over rivers and illegal activities going on in them. In this, he will take the help of the local people. Rajendra Singh, popularly known as Jalpurush, is also involved in this campaign. The caravan is on the rise.

First attempt to build a network across the country

The water fraternity formed the Indian River Council (IRC) in the year 2021 to conserve rivers across the country. Geographically, the council is divided into two parts – the Indian Peninsula Cachar Council (IPRBC) and the Indian Himalayan River Cachar Council. IPRBC started the campaign sometime back from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, taking the lead in engaging youth in water conservation. About 80 youths were added to the first batch.

According to V Prakash Rao, chairman of Telangana Water Resources Development Corporation and chairman of IPRBC, this is the first attempt to create a network simultaneously across the country to save rivers. The jurisdiction of IPRBC covers nine states and three union territories: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Andaman-Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. Apart from this, some parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have also been included.

Dr Snehal Donde, a member of the core team of IPRBC and a member of the World Water Council and Jalnayak of Maharashtra, says that such a network is being prepared in every state from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Since the rivers and water sources are more in the rural area, the target is to connect the maximum youth at the panchayat level. So that wherever obstacles are being created for rivers or ponds, they can be stopped by launching a campaign.

Rivers in the curriculum of two universities

To save rivers, now this subject should be taught as a school, and college curriculum. The council has also started its exercise. One university each in Maharashtra and Jharkhand has decided to implement it. Many central and other government universities of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, and Rajasthan have given positive signs regarding this.

According to Dr Rajendra Singh, this course has been implemented at Maharashtra’s Marathwada University, UP and Jharkhand universities. The Academic Council of Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka, Jharkhand has given permission for this course. It will be included in the next session.

Discussions are going on with Haryana, Central University of Silchar and Bundelkhand University and some universities of Rajasthan. It has three types of courses. After teaching as a subject from classes 6th to 10th, there should be a project course from classes 10th to 12th and certificate courses should be conducted at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

According to Indira Khurana, president of the Himalayan Cachar Council of India, the curriculum is being designed state-wise. The syllabus based on the state in which there is a problem related to water or river will be taught. Its purpose is that after reading this, students can learn to revive and protect the water sources around them.

These are the major rivers

The main peninsular rivers are Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Damodar, Baigehi, Mandvi, Indravati etc. Most of these rivers originate from the Western Ghats and flow through a large part of central and south India. On the other hand, the Himalayan rivers are mainly Ganga, Sutlej, Yamuna and Brahmaputra under Cachar Parishad.