Students take to the streets to urge water conservation

To mark International Water Day on March 22, the city’s youngsters are taking charge of spreading awareness on water conservation.

To mark International Water Day on March 22, the city’s youngsters are taking charge of spreading awareness on water conservation.

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Students of Podar Jumbo Kids will dress as farmers on Friday and distribute pamphlets and hold placards on the skywalks at Bandra, Santacruz and Vile Parle to educate people on the issue.

“This initiative of ‘paani ki pehchaan’ is an effort to encourage people to save water. Students have also composed a handwritten letter asking five-star hotels in Mumbai to discourage the use of bathtubs. The letter will be submitted this weekend,” said Swati Popatvats, director, Podar Jumbo Kids. The institution is also organising a signature campaign to save water, which will be submitted to the chief minister.

As the state is facing acute drought and hundreds of litres will be used for Holi, other educational institutions, such as the Father Conceicao college of Engineering in Bandra, Kamla high school, Khar (West) and Guru Harkrishan school, Santacruz (West), are also getting in on the act. The teaching staff of Nanavati School, Vile Parle, has announced their intention to save water used in daily chores and celebrate Holi responsibly in the school’s assembly.

“Imbibing these values must begin from school students. Rather than forcing them, we need to let them understand the need to conserve water,” Aftab Siddiqui, teacher and activist said.

Continuing the trend of residents and housing societies doing their bit to conserve water this year, residents of Milton Apartments, Juhu, will not organise a rain dance or water sprinklers to celebrate Holi. “Even though youngsters are reluctant to agree, we won’t be celebrating like we do every year. It is important for them to be aware of the crisis before it is too late,” said Hansel D’Souza, a resident.

Members of the H-west citizen’s federation will also be writing reports to the corporation about water leakages in nearby societies and monitoring wastage of water used for cleaning purposes.