Srinagar, Dec 18: A youth from Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district was recently honoured for his outstanding contribution to water conservation initiatives.
The “water warrior” Ruhail Maqbool, was felicitated during the 4th Edition of Jal Prahari Samman Samaroh held in New Delhi on December 13.
The event, organized by the media website sarkaritel.com with the collaboration of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, celebrated more than 30 water conservationists for their commendable work. Themed ‘Jal Atmanirbhar Bharat,’ the ceremony acknowledged the efforts of over 32 water conservators from across the country, presenting them with the esteemed Jal Prahari honour.
The felicitation ceremony recognized Sheikh’s praiseworthy and extraordinary contributions to water conservation, management, and water quality.
Expressing his gratitude, Ruhail, a Water Quality Analyst, thanked Sarkaritel and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for recognizing his work, saying this honour would inspire him to work even more zealously for water quality, management, and conservation. He also thanked the Director of Jal Jeevan Mission, Dr G N Itoo, the Jammu & Kashmir administration and other officers from the Department of Jal Shakti for their consistent support and guidance.
Having received numerous awards over the years, Sheikh was notably honoured with the ‘Water Hero Award’ by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, in December 2021. He received several awards at the district and Union Territory levels from Jal Jeevan Mission J&K and the general administration for his outstanding efforts in spreading awareness on water conservation, water quality, and management across various communities, including schools and health centres.
Ameya Sathaye, CEO and editor-in-chief, and Anil Sagar, Convenor, in a joint statement, stressed the importance of addressing knowledge gaps in water conservation. They highlighted the impact of climate change on erratic weather patterns and underscored the significance of the Jal Prahari initiative for raising awareness.
Sagar stressed collaboration among stakeholders to address global water challenges and commended the honoured Jal Praharis, expressing anticipation for their continued guidance in inspiring contributions to this vital cause.
