Wednesday, August 25, 2010

WATER IS LIFE AND EVERY DROP COUNTS: DR. KANG

Water has been called the elixir of life. One can not live without water. Agriculture depends upon water. Water is, therefore, life and every drop counts. These expressions were made by Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU while releasing the book on Eco-Water Literacy Campaign, that has been developed by the Centre for Communication and International Linkages (CCIL), PAU under the project \'Net-working for Wash-Eco-literacy Campaign\' which was sponsored by Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and catalyzed by Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad, Government of India. The book has been jointly edited by Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman and Dr. Anil Sharma of CCIL. Dr. Kang said that the Green Revolution, on one hand led to general prosperity of people but had some serious downsides, on the other. He highlighted the problem of depleting water table and the pollution of water bodies. Dr. Kang said that Punjab farmers are keen to adopt new technologies and wished that the message of water saving, increasing water use efficiency, minimizing pollution of ground water, roof-top rain water harvesting, micro irrigation, etc. conveyed in the released book will be well received by farmers and general public. He said that PAU has worked out field-worthy technologies for efficient water use in agriculture and for natural resource management.



The book, with forewords by Dr. Kang and Dr. (Mrs.) Neelam Gulati Sharma, Additional Director PSCST, has two sections with 31 Chapters in Punjabi and 14 in English. It also has a large number of slogans on the theme of the book and paintings on water saving prepared by school children. The appeal by students to save water for posterity and the poems on water saving are additional features of the book. Dr. Dhiman spoke on the content and style of the book and said that the scientists working on different aspects of water research have contributed material included in the book.



A 22-minute DVD of a docu-drama on \'Eco Water Literacy Campaign\' produced by Dr. Dhiman and Dr. Anil Kumar Sharma of CCIL was also released and screened on the occasion. The DVD is based on the stage performance by PAU students and highlights the ill effects, such as pollution, deleterious effect on eco-system, etc., arising out of misuse of water and excessive use of pesticides. The DVD has been prepared in local dialect for quick grasp by the farmers. It is the first docu-drama produced in vernacular tone in video format. The DVD has been produced involving students of different departments who effectively rendered the message in a dramatic way. The DVD has the opening message by Dr. Kang and Dr. Neelam Gulati Sharma, who congratulated the team involved in the production of this DVD. The DVD was distributed free among those present on the occasion.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Gurdev Singh Hira, former Additional Director of Research (Agri.), Dr. (Mrs.) S.K.Mann, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Dr. P.P.S.Lubana, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr. Yadwinder Singh, Head, Department of Soils, Dr. U.S.Walia, Head, Department of Agronomy. They appreciated the publication of the book on different facets of water saving and termed it as a step in right direction. The Heads of different departments and faculty members were present in the function. Dr. Nirmal Singh Jaura, Deputy Director (PR) proposed his vote of thanks and said that the CCIL organizes programmes aimed at scientific communication in need-based areas from time to time.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

No comments:

 
eXTReMe Tracker