Find new ways to recharge water sources: Guv

Scientists must come up with new techniques to recharge water sources and boost organic farming in Uttarakhand. The impact of the frequent earthquakes and the status of glaciers in the State must also be studied, said the Uttarakhand Governor Krishan Kant Paul. He was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day 12th Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress at Vigyan Dham here on Wednesday.

He spoke specifically about the role scientists could play in the context of Uttarakhand. He said there was not much enthusiasm till now in farmers regarding organic farming. Use of chemical fertilizers causes deterioration in the quality of soil. Scientists should develop such techniques which boost organic farming and inspire farmers to take it up.  The Governor said that water sources in the state needed to be recharged and revived especially as lack of water affects farming and also fuels migration from the villages. Scientists must focus on reviving rivers and other water sources, he stressed. He said that the effect of the 47 jolts in Uttarakhand after the Nepal earthquake must be studied through satellite and the status of glaciers in the state must also be studied. He said Uttarakhand was important as far as environment and biodiversity is concerned. A balance is needed to be sustained between utilisation of energy (natural resources) and conservation of environment. For this too, scientific studies were needed. He said that in ancient India, science was quite well developed with great contributions being made in the fields of astronomy, Arithmetic and Algebra.  There was a gap but now, once again, India was at an evolved stage in the sciences. Other countries now took the help of India in launching their satellites, he said.

The Governor and felicitated the Radiochemistry and Isotope Group director at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, BS Tomar, Uttarakhand Residential University vice chancellor professor HS Dhami and the chairman and managing director of National Seeds Corporation Limited, Vinod Kumar Gaur for their accomplishments. He also presented the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) best science teacher award to Manish Jaguri from  Chinyalisaur, Uttarkashi. Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) director general Rajendra Dobhal proposed the vote of thanks at the inaugural session. Later, the director general of Life Sciences, DRDO, Shashi Bala Singh delivered the NASI plenary lecture on the scientific insight into Yoga. She informed the gathering about the effect sof yoga on the body and mind and the packages developed to help armed forces and scientists working in varied conditions ranging from the desert, snow bound areas and submarines to Antarctica.  She said that practicing yoga had helped soldiers and scientists adapt better to living and working in difficult surroundings.

Two brain-storming sessions were also held in the afternoon. The session on significance of science communication in Himalayan region was chaired by Public Relation Society of India national president Ajit Pathak. The State medical education director, professor Ravi Kant chaired the session on Uttarakhand- health status and research.