At a time when the presence of blue-green algae in River Chaliyar is the hot topic, experts will hold a seminar on water-related issues on World Water Day on March 22. The seminar will give participants a first-hand experience of the problem. Interestingly, the venue of the seminar is the river itself.
The School of Management Studies (SOMS) of the National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode, in association with Green Care Mission, an organisation that promotes natural way of living, is organising the seminar.
As part of the seminar, resource persons and participants will set out on a boat. During the journey from Koolimad near Mavoor to Thazhakode near Mukkam and back, the group will discuss various water-related issues including the algae bloom that has been haunting people living on the banks of the river.
“Our focus is on knowing the river close and analysing the problem firsthand, besides creating awareness,” said Mohammed Shafi, assistant professor at SOMS, who conceived the seminar.
The theme of World Water Day this year is Water for Nature, and the focus is on exploring nature-based solutions to contemporary water challenges. Environmental damage and climate change come into the picture along with flood, drought, water pollution and degraded vegetation, soil, lakes, and rivers.
The participants will frame strategies to create awareness about the importance of preserving water for future generations.
They will set out from Green Carpet, an eco campus managed by Green Care Mission at Koolimad at 9 a.m. K. Madhavan, scientist at the Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM); Hamidali Vazhakkad, environmentalist; Chitra N.R, assistant professor of water resource engineering, NIT Calicut; Meena J. Panicker, faculty member, SOMS, and Mr. Shafi will be the resource persons. The participant intake has been limited to 50.
There will also be a panel discussion on the algae situation in Chaliyar. Cultural events and ‘green bath’ in the river are also part of the agenda.
