KATHUA, FEB 06: Minister for Agricultural Production and Rural Development Department, Javed Ahmad Dar, on Wednesday stressed the urgency of balancing development with environmental conservation while flagging off the ‘Watershed Yatra’ at Government Degree College (GDC), Hiranagar. The initiative, launched by the Department of Rural Development, Government of India, aims to promote water management and ecological sustainability across Jammu and Kashmir.
The campaign was officially flagged off at the national level by Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Addressing the gathering, Javed Dar, who also holds charge of the Cooperative and Election departments, highlighted the environmental challenges arising from rapid urbanization and industrial expansion. He called for collective efforts to mitigate climate change by preserving natural resources, particularly water bodies and forest cover.
“We are moving towards modernization and commercialization, but it is our responsibility to balance progress with environmental sustainability. Conservation of water and afforestation must be our top priorities,” the Minister stated.
Encouraging public participation in the ‘Watershed Yatra,’ he urged students and local communities to play an active role in environmental conservation. He emphasized that initiatives like ‘Amrit Sarovar’ are crucial in improving water reservoirs and maintaining ecological health.
On the occasion, the Minister also flagged off the “Watershed Yatra Van” from Hiranagar. The vehicle will travel 2,400 km across Jammu and Kashmir, engaging over five lakh residents through workshops, community activities, and awareness campaigns. The initiative, running until March 1, 2025, will conclude in Jammu, highlighting techniques in watershed conservation, soil health enhancement, and rainwater harvesting.
As part of the event, Javed Dar planted a tree at GDC Hiranagar and e-inaugurated various initiatives under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0).
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RDD&PR), Mohammad Aijaz Asad, underscored the community-driven nature of the initiative. “This is not the government’s journey; it is your journey. Every individual, every community must take ownership of water conservation,” he remarked.
The event was attended by MLA Kathua Dr. Bharat Bhushan, MLA Hiranagar Vijay Kumar Sharma, and MLA Billawar Satish Kumar Sharma. Among others present were Secretary in RDD & PR Department, Rachna Sharma; Director RDD Jammu, Mumtaz Ali; Mission Director JKRLM, Shubhra Sharma; Director Panchayati Raj, J&K, Sham Lal; Chief Executive Officer, IWMP, Rajnish Kumar; and Chief Operating Officer, HIMAYAT, Rajneesh Gupta.
