The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2006 in India

Wetland Report 2006

Keeping their tradition, "PAHAL" organized special awareness programme on WORLD WETLAND DAY 2nd February 2006. Invitation letter was sent to 50 schools and colleges of Jalandhar and Kapurthala (Punjab). 22 colleges reported on the day. Wetland Awareness troupe started at 08:30 A.M. from Kapurthala chowk, Jalandhar for Kanjli Wetland. There were 62 members both young boys and girls and lecturers from different institutions of Jalandhar. They reached there at 09:15. About 150 schools students joined at Kapurthala. After having breakfast all participants gathered for the inaugural function. Distt. Administration Kapurthala joined for Wetland Day Celebration.

Sh. Samir Kumar IAS Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala graced the inaugural function. Sh.B.S.Shergill, ADC(D) Kapurthala, Sh.A.K.Sikka SDM Kapurthala, Sh. K.S.Grewal DDPO Kapurthala, BDO Kapurthala, Officers from Horticulturem Officers from Forest Dept. Sh. Davinder Manager Kanjli, Ms. Harjit Kaur DEO Kapurthala, Sh. Onkar Singh Distt. Science Supervisor Kapurthala joined this function. Deputy Commissioner launched the day while planting new samplings of ornamental plantsin park of Kanjli Site. NSS Deptt. Of Govt. College Kapurthal also joined there. As the function started Prof. Sarbjit Singh Dhir area activist of "PAHAL" introduced the subject of wetland. Prof. Lakhbir Singh said that wetlands are of great importance in life. They help us in eco-devlopment and balancing the environmental conditions. But the unfortunate part is this that in Punjab the wetlands have been reduced to less than 1.5% of the total land. As a result we have lost lot of flora and fauna along with other water habitat. The water level has deepened from 20 feet to 120 feet in last 25 years. The majorities of village ponds serving as small wetlands have been filled or got abandoned. This is great threat to the human civilization on the Earth.

Sh. Samir Kumar IAS spoke on the importance of Kanjli. He said that in addition to the physical importance of Kanjli as wetland it has aesthetic and spiritual values also. It give us a chance to see our inner in the todays busy and restless life. One can assimilate with nature in the lap of Kanjli. He appealed the masses to visit this important site once a while with family to find their self. He inspired the participants of painting and quiz competition. Ms. Harjit Kaur Gill DEO Elementary Kapurthala express her praise for "PAHAL" for their activities in the youth development. The painting competition and quiz competition continues till 02:15 P.M. Ms. Bhawna Garg IAS Additional Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala was the chief guest at valedictory function of the day. She said that all schools and colleges should celebrate this day for the awareness. She added that creation and maintenance of wetland can enhance the employment levels of villages if concentrate upon in addition to their routine natural values. She gave away the prizes to all the winners in painting competition where Army School Kapurthala won overall trophy and Master Surashtha of same school won the first individual prize, Preet Kamal of GAD Public School Jalandhar got the second prize and third prize was won by Manprit Kaur of G.G.S.S. Nehru Garden, Jalandhar. Sh.S.S.Chauhan Manager SBI Khurla Kingra and Sh. Sudhir Ahuja AGM SBI Civil Lines was also present at this occasion.

Sarabjit Singh Dhir NSS officer NJSA Govt College Kapurthala conducted quiz contest on wetland and environment. Govt. College Kapurthala won the overall trophy among the colleges from Jalandhar and Kapurthala. Nitin Seth of APJ COLLEGE won first individual prize. Gurtej Singh from DAV College Jalandhar won the second prize and Amandeep Kaur of Hindu Kanya College Kapurthala got the third prize. All the other participants were given participation certificates. The judgment of painting competition was prepared by Ms.Jatinder Kaur Dhir Lect. In Home Science Govt College, Kapurthala. Mr. Amit Kumar famous free lance painter, Ms. Rashim Fine Arts teacher from Army Public School Kapurthala, Ms. Harvinder Kaur, Mr. Raman Kumar, Ms.Gurjit Kaur, Mr.Heera Singh, Mr.Narinder Kaur members PAHAL made special efforts for this day long event.

Following is the list of participants of wetland educational tour, quiz and painting competition and WORLD WETLAND DAY 02-02-06 celebrations:

1. Mr.Samir Kumar, IAS Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala
2. Er. Bhawna Garg IAS Addl Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala
3. Mr.B.S. Shergill , Addl IAS Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala
4. Ms.Harjit Kaur Gill DEO Elementary Kapurthala
5. Mr.A.K.Sikka SDM Kapurthala
6. Mr.K.S.Grewal DDPO Kapurthala
7. Mr. Davinder Neel Manager Kanjali Kapurthala
8. Mr.Sudhir Ahuja AGM State Bank of India Civil Lines, Jalandhar
9. Mr.S.S.Chuhan Manager State Bank of India Khurla Kingr Jalandhar

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 28 February 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.