AMRITSAR: The Indian army has extended logistic support to the Core Committee of PAANI (Prevention of Attrition to Assets in Nature initiative) which held its meeting here on Monday to discuss the Phase II of the initiative fotr environment at Harike Pattan.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary and CEO of WWF India, Ravi Singh,Deputy GOC Brig RJS Dhillon, Manish Kumar IFS, Jagdip Singh DFO, Dr.Anish Dua Aquatic Biologist, NGO's & Industrialists.

The army has pledged logistic support for the Cleansing of the three rivers of Punjab. Since the rivers are presently in spate, and Bihar floods require a major relief effort, the Army shall be ready for the riverine surveys by third week September.

The Deputy GOC Brig RJS Dhillon said that the army is sensitive to the environment, and is already implementing a Rs.20 crore sewage treatment plant for Amritsar Cantonment.This shall be operational within 15 months.

Gunbir Singh, Chairman, WWF-Punjab welcomed the wholehearted support offered by the Army towards PAANI and thus the cause for survival of humanity.Roles and Responsibilities.
 
Ravi Singh, Secretary General WWF India appreciated the initiative taken by Punjab, and was satisfied with the progress of the program. He also suggested that teachers from Punjab can be imparted training in special workshops by WWF, so as to sensitise the younger generationto ecological sustainability and climate change Otter Gunbir Singh shared the photograph of Otters at Harike, and also commented on unconfirmed reportings of Crocodiles in Ravi basin and elsewhere.

Gunbir Singh said that a quick survey of Harike to discover its potential was done by the WWF team with officials of Wildlife and Forest department. Harike, an International Ramsarsite, is an 86 km wetland whereas Bharatpur bird sanctuary is only 25 km. The state of the sanctaury is still good and apart from the Dolphins, there aremany more species which can be explored during the surveys planned.  Singh said that the Punjab government has extended much assistance to the conservation initiative through awareness advertisements in the medialast month asking industry and municipalities alike to work towards cubing pollution.