District Magistrate inaugurates WWF-India’s ‘Ramganga
Chaupal’ for the city of Moradabad
WWF-India‘s Field Office
presents creative exhibits on Ramganga Conservation
October
19, 2013, Moradabad: WWF-India’s Secretary General & CEO, Mr.
Ravi Singh along with District Magistrate of Moradabad, Shri Sanjay Kumar (IAS)
inaugurated the ‘Ramganga Chaupal’, a dedicated space to know about the Ramganga
( its water quality, quantity, river path and biodiversity) river and various
ways to be adopted to conserve it. Along with the District Magistrate, ‘Ramganga Chaupal’ was visited by other senior
government officials including Additional District Magistrate, Shri Praveen
Mishra, City Commissioner , Shri S.K. Singh, Basic Shiksha Adhikari, Shri Munne
Ali and many others. WWF-India has developed content and creative exhibits in
the Ramganga Chaupal which explore ecology, biology and the natural history of
Ramganga and the surrounding river basin. WWF-India has also set up live-size
biodiversity models (gharials, dolphins and turtles) to demonstrate the diverse
set of aquatic biodiversity existing in Ramganga river. Also, the locals and
visitors will be able to enjoy both scheduled and self guided tours of the
centre and an enhanced river trail system.
This Ramganga centre is a
kind of new-style museum, providing platform for visitors to understand the
origin, course and nature of Ramganga river, thereby making them aware about
the challenges faced by the river. Ramganga Chaupal at First Floor, HIG-40,
Ramganga Vihar Colony- 2, Moradabad successfully highlighted diverse
themes/issues related to Ramganga river through creative exhibits to connect
with the stakeholders. These included:
1. The state of the
River - Water Quantity, Quality, Biodiversity and River Path
2. Ecosystem services
and livelihoods provided by the river
3. Threats to the
health of the river - Pollution from Industries, Agriculture and the City
4. Some approaches to
revive the river – Rainwater Harvest, Mapping Water Foot Print & Smart
Agricultural Practices
5. Moradabad city’s
dependence on its water
Mr. Ravi Singh,
Secretary General & CEO WWF-India said, “WWF-India was able to work in
Moradabad with the kind support of District Administration and I am extremely
grateful to the District Magistrate for helping us reach all our stakeholders.
I am happy to share that ‘Ramganga for Life, Life for Ramganga’ campaign in
Moradabad city has brought this city up in WWF’s work which also exists across
120 nations. It is imperative that we try connect with maximum number of
community members to take this conservation work forward. WWF-India’s Rivers
for Life, Life for Rivers programme envisions Ganga and Ramganga, one of
its major tributaries as healthy river systems that are rich in biodiversity,
providing long term water security to communities and nature.”
‘Ramganga Chaupal’ is
expected to become the signature attraction for the city of Moradabad. It will
be a resource for school and college students and citizens from all walks of
life. A series of activities have been planned for the centre including teacher
training programmes, training of the Government officials and college students
on measures to be adopted to conserve the river. The Chaupal will also showcase
documentary on Ramganga which aims to highlight the issues/challenges faced by
Ramganga river and to inform/involve/engage diverse stakeholders, inspiring
them to become friends of Ramganga river and take complete ownership of its
ecological wellbeing. The guests present at the event appeared enjoying the
documentary film, especially after catching glimpses of the Ganga dolphin
showcased in the movie. The movie made the viewers travel across the river
stretch, showcasing the various realities of Ramganga river.
“I congratulate the entire
team of WWF-India for putting up this brilliant exhib
Ramganga Chaupal will be
soon hosting awareness generation activities that include conducting Ramganga
Sansads, Block & District level meetings, River Trails, Ramganga Mitras meeting
etc. to inspire diverse communities for taking complete ownership for the
ecological wellbeing of the river.
“The programme believes that
it is vital to mobilize community members’
participation in conservation activities and develop a coordinated framework
for collaboration between all stakeholders.
To take this forward, ‘Ramganga Chaupal’ will play a critical role in
providing community members a platform to discuss/debate and deliberate on
Ramganga conservation activities, thereby making them active agents of change
and a Ramganga mitra’, added Mr Suresh Babu, Director River Basins & Water
Policy.
*WWF-India’s Rivers
for Life programme is supported by HSBC Water Programme.
For more information,
please contact: Ms. Garima Dimri, 09654706884
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