STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Department of Environmental Sciences and Green Campus Task Force (GCTF-JU), University of Jammu organized the Save Tawi Campaign on the banks of River Tawi on the last day of the Navratra festival in Jammu to raise awareness about the detrimental impacts of waste disposal, particularly non-biodegradable waste, in the river. Over 50 students, faculty members, and volunteers participated in this initiative and educated the public and the devotees especially those engaging in the immersion of Khetri/Sakh and other religious items emphasizing the negative environmental consequences of immersing materials other than the sacred “Khetri” into the river and highlighting the important role of river conservation in sustaining life. The students collected the religious materials from the devotees at various entry points near the old Tawi Bridge and segregated them into chunaris, garlands, diyas, polythene bags, earthen pots, etc. The devotees were encouraged to take away Chunaris and earthen pots for reuse and offer water to birds in their houses.
It is pertinent to mention that the Save Tawi Campaign initiative was taken by the Department of Environmental Sciences in the year 2013 and since then the Department has been organizing this event twice a year every year during the culmination of the Navratra festival. Every year, individuals from diverse backgrounds enthusiastically join the campaign, offering strong support to the initiative. Over the past decade, members of civil society and various NGOs have increasingly recognized the significance of the “Save Tawi Campaign,” and their participation has grown, reflecting widespread appreciation for the cause. The students of the department also conducted a study to assess the impact and effectiveness of the “Save Tawi Campaign”. Feedback was gathered from the devotees to evaluate their awareness level and the campaign’s success in promoting responsible behaviour towards the conservation of River Tawi.
Dr. Deepika Slathia, was the teacher In charge of the event and the event was coordinated by Prof. Piyush Malaviya, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu. Among others who participated in the event included Dr. Rakesh Kumar Atri, Dr. Meenakshi Khajuria, and Dr. Ranjan Sharma.
