Moradabad Welcomes Wildlife Week with Open Arms
Divisional Commissioner
Moradabad, Chief Conservator of Forest Bareily, District Magistrate Moradabad
and Conservator of Forest Moradabad come together to encourage students to
conserve wildlife in Ramganga river
October 1, 2013: The bronze city of
Moradabad brought in the Wildlife Week in its true style with the installation of
bronze Hog Deer statuettes at the entrance of the Eco Park, with an aim to inspire
citizens of Moradabad to take up the cause of Ramganga conservation. District Administration & Forest
Department of Moradabad along with the WWF-India brought in the Wildlife Week
in the city with a series of planned awareness generation activities lined up
for a week long celebrations. The day began with the official launch of the
bird panel which showcases the photographs of prominent birds found the
Moradabad district along with the Ramganga documentary film by the chief guest,
Shri Shankar Singh, Divisional Commissioner, followed by the release of the
Ramganga Mitra logo along with Ramganga Mitra caps by the District Magistrate,
Moradabad, Shri. Sanjay Kumar (IAS).
WWf-India’s
Rivers for Life programme initiated Ramganga’s revival strategy in the city of
Moradabad, in partnership with its District Administration. The revival strategy for the river envisions for communities,
industries and Government to work together to bring the river back to life
(improved ecological health). As part of the restoration plan, a mass awareness
communication campaign has been devised with the focus on engaging diverse
stakeholders to aspire for taking complete ownership, thereby becoming Ramganga
Mitr.
“I welcome the Divisional
Commissioner Moradabad, Shri Shiv Shankar Singh, Chief Conservator of Forest,
Bareily, Shri M.P. Singh and other senior Forest Department officials including
Shri Kamlesh Kumar & Shri Bomik Chandra Brahma, officers of WWF-India and dear students to Eco Park,
Moradabad. Wildlife Week is of great significance as it tries to reiterate the importance
of nature and wildlife in our daily living and the required reasons for its
conservation. For the last eight months, with the support of WWF-India,
District Administration of Moradabad has initiated ‘Ramganga for Life, Life for
Ramganga’ Campaign. This campaign aims to engage with young adults, Government
officials, schools and community members in developing strategies to restore
the ecological wellbeing of the river, while making them Ramganga Mitras. On
the occasion of the beginning of the Wildlife Week, lets pledge today that we
would reduce our consumption of polythene, would plant one sapling each year
and ensure the conservation of water at our respective households!” said Shri Sanjay Kumar, IAS, District Magistrate.
Shri
Shiv Shankar Singh, Divisional Commissioner Moradabad added, “District
Administration of Moradabad is taking up the issue of the conservation of
Ramganga on priority. To achieve our shared vision it is vital to mobilize
young adult’s participation in conservation activities and develop a
coordinated framework for collaboration between all stakeholders. I would like
to congratulate the entire team of District Administration and Forest
Department for taking up this noble initiative along with WWF-India. Hopefully,
the documentary film screenings through the week will be able to generate
awareness about Ramganga conservation among young students, thereby reaching
their respective friends and family members. I would request you all to help
the administration achieve its vision for a clean Ramganga. It is imperative to
note that only clean water provides habitat to Dolphins. We should all aim to
get Dolphins to Ramganga river in the city of Moradabad!”
The documentary
film produced by WWF-India under its ‘Ramganga for Life, Life for Ramganga’ campaign
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 students
present at the event appeared enjoying the documentary film, especially after
catching glimpses of the Ganga dolphin showcased in the movie. The movie makes
the viewers travel across the river stretch, showcasing the various realities
of Ramganga river.
After
the screening, day one of the week long celebrations witnessed painting competition
for school children , between 6th to 8th grade, across 28
government and private schools, including Kasurbha Gandhi and Indira Gandhi
Schools. The painting exercise
aimed to nurture emerging young talent in the city and to provide a platform
for engaging them in Ramganga and
wildlife conservation activities.
“At
WWF-India we strongly believe that along with educating and creating awareness
about wildlife among young people, it is critical to work with the government
and help them form policies and design strategies favouring solutions that
address wildlife conservation issues in today’s changing scenarios. WWF-India’s
Rivers for Life programme has devised a detailed awareness generation
activities as part of the Ramganga restoration plan that includes conducting
Wildlife Week Celebrations, Ramganga Sansads, Block & District level
meetings, River Trails, identifying Ramganga Mitrs to inspire diverse
communities living across Ramganga basin to take immediate actions for rivers
conservation. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to extend gratitude
for supporting the campaign and providing a coordinated framework for
collaboration between all stakeholders”, added Mr. Suresh Babu, Director, River
Basins & Water Policy, WWF-India.
The
following days of the wildlife week celebrations would witness competitions on
slogan writing, elocution on Ramganga Conservation along with quiz on Ramganga
river and documentary film screenings till October 7, 2013.
*WWF-India’s Rivers for Life programme is supported by HSBC Water
Programme.
