Noida: Residents join hands to save water

Noida: It was a day of water conservation and environment awareness drives across the city.

A workshop on water conservation was held at Indira Gandhi Kala Kendra and was attended by Alok Prem Nagar, joint secretary in the panchayati raj ministry, and district magistrate BN Singh. In another campaign, residents of highrise apartments in sectors 77 and 119 planted more than 200 saplings in green belts and along roads.

“Water conservation and afforestation are high priority agendas for us. Under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, plans are being finalised by officers and development partners,” said Singh.

The workshops come at a time reports on Noida’s watertable have sounded alarm bells for the future.

“Efforts are on to ensure government offices have fully functional rainwater harvesting pits, to protect and develop new wetlands, ensure desilting and removal of encroachment from these areas,” Singh said.

An MoU with private players like HCL Tech has been signed for the development of 20 ponds in the district. “For factories, it’s a statutory responsibility to ensure no illegal Reverse Osmosis plants and ensure proper functioning of STP/ ETP,” Singh asserted.

Afforestation drives are also planned, under which 7.5 lakh saplings are to be planted across the district.

Residents from several apartments planted over 200 saplings. “Today, over 150 saplings were planted in the green belt area of our sector and many residents participated in the drive. Saplings were collected from the horticulture department. Talks are on with the AOA and maintenance department to take care of them,” said Amit Bimal, a resident of Eldeco Aamantran society.