Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 22: The Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu Centre in collaboration with Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Department, UT of J&K celebrated World Water Day on 22nd March, 2026 with the theme “Water and Gender”. The event was attended by Engineers from various Departments, Organizations and Senior Engineers along with Members of the Committee of IEI, Jammu Centre. On this occasion, Ms. Anjali Sehrawat, IAS, Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, Department of Jal Shakti, J&K Govt. was the Chief Guest and Er. Anil Verma, FIE Chairman, IEI, Jammu Centre presided over the function. Er. Avneet Gupta, MIE, Honorary Secretary, IEI Jammu Local Centre while declaring the seminar open, highlighted the importance of World Water Day with special reference to theme of this year. [Er. Anil Verma, FIE in his Welcome Address highlighted the importance of this year’s theme and hailed the commendable role played by Jal Jeevan Mission & Jal Shakti Department in covering 15-16 lakh of the rural households upto 2025-2026 for providing water supply. He also informed that efforts of JJM have not only made J&K as fastest improving UT in rural water supply but also have improved the quality of life of women. It has resulted in making the Women folk more safe, secure & stress free from physical strain & other risks by virtue of easing of their burden of water collection from community collection points etc earlier. It was followed by a lecture on the achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K by Er. Reyaz Bhat, S.E. (Hydraulics) & Technical Advisor to Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, J&K Govt. He highlighted the achievement of Jal Shakti Department & Jal Jeevan Mission with providing interesting statistics. Later 04 Nos speakers namely Er. B. L. Rawal, FIE; Er. Gopal Sharma, MIE; Er. Ranjeev Sawhney, MIE & Er. Joy Ganjoo, AM Technologist presented papers on the theme of this year. Ms. Anjali Sehrawat, IAS, Chief Guest was quite appreciative about the efforts of the speakers for bringing such literature before the audience. She also lauded the Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu Centre for organising the event jointly marking the conclusion of Jal Mahotsav which started on 8th of March.
She also asked all stakeholders to treat WWD as a “Call for Action” so that no female has to bear the burden of water management alone in a household. She also assured that JJM will ensure that functional household tap connections will reach all the leftover households in J&K at the earliest. In the end, Er. Rita Rehan, Executive Engineer, PHE (Mech.) Udhampur, presented the Vote of Thanks to the august gathering and media personnel for their active participation. |