Healthy Rivers, Happy Cities - A citizen's campaign!

Healthy Rivers, Happy Cities

A citizens Initiative to know the health of Rivers and build responsible citizenship to protect rivers and water bodies

(A campaign led by Water Initiatives Odisha and open for other groups with similar objectives and ethics to join)

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)!

As you are aware WIO has been at the forefront of water conservation and advocacy efforts in Odisha. On World Water Day 2010 we took a pledge, on the banks of River Bheden, to save Odisha's rivers from decaying and dying.  Ever since that day WIO has been working to strengthen its endeavours to conserve and protect our rivers and their ecosystems.

Realizing the fact that the emerging urban areas - which are growing rapidly and in ecologically insensitive ways - are treating our rivers as drain lines and garbage bodies, we at WIO decided to start a campaign to involve the urban communities in protection of the Rivers.  This made us to talk to several of our member organisations, friends and well wishers and after about six months of such discussions we decided to start a citizen driven campaign called "Healthy Rivers, Happy Cities".  

A note on the campaign can be found at http://www.odishareporter.in/top_news/healthy-rivers-happy-cities

We are happy to share that many groups and individuals have shown their interest to be part of it and citizens have already initiated dialogues among themselves in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. As part of the drive, besides meetings, citizens are also starting to visit Rivers and other Water Bodies to take stock of the pollution and related problems.  

We want to build a healthy relationship between our Rivers and urban citizens.  We want your support in keeping our Rivers Healthy and flowing.  

Initially the campaign is building around Mahanadi and as you can find out from the following links from media coverage of our Environment Day release, we are planning a "Healthy Mahanadi River Festival' at Sambalpur on 30th June 2013.  This is just the beginning.  The campaign will then cover all rivers of the cities and their dependent cities. 

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/water-initiatives-to-hold-healthy-mahanadi-river-fest.html

http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=41660

This is a campaign driven by voluntary action and we all are volunteering for the activities and programmes.  We urge upon you, all concerned citizens, to come forward and join hands with us. 

To be part of this campaign, please write back at ranjanpanda@gmail.com or waterinodisha@gmail.com.

Lets be the change, lets save our Rivers...

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

http://www.hindustantimes.com/IndiaSectionPage/worldenvironment/Green-Heroes-Odisha-s-conservation-master/Article1-1070897.aspx

    

--
Ranjan K Panda

Convenor
Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!
INDIA
Mobile:             +919437050103      

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader
 Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 
 Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Please join our new campaign https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenNeedWaterToPlay

 Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in India for more than two decades now.