Amritsar, March 22: On the occasion of World Water Day, a large awareness walkathon was organized by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to promote water conservation. The event was flagged off by Mayor Jitendra Singh Bhatia at Ranjit Avenue D Block, where children, youth and elderly citizens participated in large numbers to spread the message of saving water.
Addressing the participants, the Mayor emphasized that life without water is unimaginable. He highlighted that even the possibility of human settlement on other planets depends on the availability of water. Referring to Punjabās identity, he stated that the very name āPunjabā is associated with water and that the regionās ancient civilization has thrived because of it. However, due to excessive groundwater extraction and overdependence on wheat and paddy cultivation, groundwater levels in the state have declined significantly. He warned that if this trend continues, Punjab could face desertification in the future.
He also mentioned that the state government has taken steps to prioritize canal water for irrigation by strengthening canal systems. As a result, the use of canal water has increased and groundwater levels have shown improvement after many years. He urged citizens to use water responsibly and avoid wastage.
Meanwhile, Project Manager Kuldeep Singh Saini stated that according to the Water Resources of Punjab 2024 report, all ten blocks of Amritsar district have been declared dark zones. In the urban block alone, groundwater extraction has exceeded 300 percent, meaning usage is three times higher than the natural recharge rate.
To address this, the government has initiated the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Project, which will supply treated canal water. The project includes a 44 crore liter capacity treatment plant at Valla, 112 km pipeline network, construction of 39 new tanks and renovation of 24 existing ones.
Assistant Commissioner Rajinder Sharma suggested simple daily practices like using buckets instead of showers, fixing leaks and avoiding water wastage to ensure sustainable conservation.
KL JIT WALIA
