World Rivers Day is celebrated on the 4th Sunday of September every year to increase public awareness about rivers and to encourage their conservation. The day celebrates Earth’s waterways, in which over 60 countries participate every year.
History of World Rivers Day
In 2005, Mark Angelo, an internationally-celebrated river conservationist, approached the United Nations during its Water for Life campaign — a decade-long initiative to raise awareness about threatened water resources across the planet. Angelo advocated for an annual World Rivers Day to help anchor the campaign.
The first World Rivers Day was celebrated in over a dozen countries. Now, the annual event is marked by celebrations in more than 60.
India’s Initiatives Related to River Cleaning in India
- Namami Gange Programme(NGP)
- Ganga Action Plan
- National River Ganga Basin Authority -NRGBA
- Clean Ganga Fund
- Bhuvan-Ganga Web App
- Ban on Waste Disposal.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Initiatives to Conserve Rivers and Lakes
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is implementing actions to conserve its rivers, including establishing a River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC).
Specific Projects
- River Devika Project.
- Kashmir Wetland Conservation Reserves.
- Tawi River in Jammu -Sewage Water Treatment.
- Dal-Nigeen Eco Project
- Mission Ehsaas: To clean up and conserve the Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes.
Economy of the State relies heavily on water intensive sectors like agriculture, horticulture, energy generation, tourism, etc. Wake-up and Save our Water Resources, before it is too late. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said in a Hadith,’Do not waste water, even if you are at a river’.
