Shillong, Nov 9: The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) organised Rajya Jal Utsav 2026 at the State Convention Centre here, bringing together students, educators, government officials, experts, artists and community members in a celebration of water conservation, environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
The event was attended by Vivekanand Singh Rathore, Deputy Inspector General, BSF Shillong, as chief guest, and Ranjit Das, Scientist/Engineer ‘SF’, North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), as guest of honour.
The programme highlighted the collective responsibility of safeguarding water resources while fostering greater awareness among citizens, particularly young people, about the importance of sustainable water management and environmental conservation.
Through competitions in drawing, story writing and eco-friendly model making themed ‘Our Water, Our Future: Community-Led Solutions for Water Security’, students showcased innovative ideas, creative expression and practical solutions centred on water conservation, safe drinking water, climate resilience and community ownership of water resources.
The celebrations also featured an engaging panel discussion on the theme ‘Water: Our Heritage, Our Responsibility, Our Future’, which explored the importance of conserving water sources, protecting fragile ecosystems, and preserving traditional knowledge systems related to water management.
Moderated by Conrad Pariat, the discussion brought together experts from diverse fields, including E Shullai, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Social Forestry and Environment); WK Kharkongor, Divisional Officer, Soil and Water Conservation; RS Nongbri, Chief Engineer of PHED Meghalaya; Amebari Kharkongor, Assistant Professor of Shillong College; and Bankerlang Kharmylliem, Assistant Professor of Shillong Commerce College. The session was further enriched by a special presentation from NESAC’s Ranjit Das on the application of space technology in water resource management.
