A day-long programme on Advocacy Workshop / Exhibition-cum-mela under the theme “Water Conservation” and its related issues like sanitation and hygiene was organized on December 7 at DC Conference hall and Indoor stadium, Leh.

Dr. Sonam Dawa, CEC congratulated the PHE department for organizing the programme with an aim to save drinking water and maintaining personal and social hygiene.

Recalling his school days, CEC said that he does not remember carrying a water bottle to school instead they would drink water straight from the nearby flowing stream.Looking at the present sorry state of our stream water, he expressed sadness over the inability of his generation to not to be able to pass over the clean and safe drinking water tradition.

Dr. Sonam Dawa spoke about the on-going water supply scheme in Leh town and assured of uninterrupted drinking water supply to all after its completion. He also appreciated the PHE department for supplying clean drinking water.

Moses Kunzang, ADC said that such kind of workshop disseminates a crucial message of saving drinking water and maintaining its hygiene.

Drawing the importance of workshop in which numbers of students of various schools participated, Moses Kunzang directed Chief Education Officer, Leh to spread the important message through students in schools. 

Further, talking about the undergoing lying of sewerage system in Leh town, ADC said that a pilot project for sanitation with Rural Development is under process which after completion will be instrumental in maintaining the overall sanitation. 

Wangyal Phuntsog, AEE briefed about the importance of water, hygiene, and sanitation. NN Raina, Executive Engineer, PHE giving the introduction about the National Rural Drinking Water Programme talked about its setup and its increased importance, especially under the Swachh Bharat Mission scheme. He further said that painting competition among school students was also conducted in Nubra and Leh as a part of the programme.

A documentary on Sanitation and Hygiene was screened and power-point presentations on Water Quality by Urgain Norboo, AE,  water-related diseases by Dr. Tashi Namgyal, District Health Officer and Swachh Bharat Mission by Tsering Paldan, ACD was presented.