ITANAGAR, Mar 22: World Water Day 2026 was celebrated across the State by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), signifying the huge importance of freshwater and sustainable management of water resources for human life and ecosystems.
Galo Welfare Society (GWS) president Dr Toli Bassar, took part in the celebration held at PHED Naharlagun Division at Rakap Colony. He emphasized the need of constitution of the water conservation body and catchment area protection and preservation committee, saying it’s time for public participation on the issue or a time will come when we may face scarcity of water in many parts of the State in case precautionary steps are not adopted.
World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22 to highlight the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of water resources. Established by the UN in 1993, it focuses on addressing global water scarcity, sanitation, and pollution, with 2026 highlighting gender equality and water access, he said.
The celebration in urban and rural areas aimed to raise awareness among the people living without access to safe water and to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal ensuring water and sanitation for all which is necessary. So it’s a responsibility and duty of citizens that they practise rainwater harvesting so that in case of any emergency it can be used and utilized for all purposes, he said.
We are here in State capital and in even in case of urban areas due to rampant earth cutting, jungle clearing, massive deforestation in the name of development and agriculture and horticulture it is necessary to protect the catchment area for our future or else a time will come that one has to shift to other places for want of life sustainability, he added.
Expressing happiness on the legislation of The Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Act, 2023, he further said that it needed to be implemented on the ground.
Nyishi Elite Society general secretary Nabam Takar, PHED Naharlagun Circle superintending engineer Tok Tayum Camdir, executive engineer Sawant Riang, and AE Tamchi Shyam also spoke on the issue of scarcity of water and large scale deforestation in and around capital complex.
Officers from various departments and local leaders, among others, attended the event.