Doc who has found purpose in saving water across city

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June28

Eight years ago, a gathering discussing the need to conserve water gave a new direction to the life of Dr Harjeet Singh, an assistant professor at Government Medical College (GMC) here. The 57-year-old since then has been on a mission to conserve water on his own in a unique way.

Recalling the incident that moved him from within, he says, “I was participating in a discussion where the issue of water conservation was being raised. The discussion left a deep impact on me and I thought of saving the natural resource. I went back, researched about the status of water resources and the condition of potable water.”

Dr Harjeet Singh, an assistant professor in the Department of Anaesthesia, GMC, spends about Rs 500 on purchasing material required to replace faulty taps and installing new ones whereever needed. He makes sure to carry taps and other items in his car to control water wastage as soon as he sees it throughout the city.

Talking about his unique way, he explains, “I have my own way to deal with people. If I see a faulty tap, I call the person concerned and make him aware of the dangerous consequences of such wastage and then replace the faulty tap or close the running tap.”

“Just changing the taps alone will not help. People should be aware of their mistakes. I try to do so in whatever way I can,” he adds.

The professor and the water conservationist makes it a point to educate people whenever he sees them wasting water by cleaning their cars.

He said, “If I am passing by a locality and someone is cleaning his car by using a pipe, I try to meet and explain to them the damage they are inflicting on the future generations.”

However, the doctor who has dedicated his life to water conservation is disappointed with the authorities. He advocates the formation of an effective centralised body to manage river water and proper rain water harvesting in the state and saving of potable water.

Expressing his concern, he stresses, “The need of the hour is to change the mindset of the people. Laws meant to save water must be implemented properly. Residents keep breaking the laws and there is hardly any punishment for it. Moreover, people should understand the value of potable drinking water. It has to be saved.”

“People can re-use water, it should not be thrown away. Use of pipes to wash vehicles should be banned. People can set an auto-cut or submersible motor alarm to ensure proper use of these motors. They can fill buckets for such usage. These small measures can lead to a great impact in water conservation,” he adds while suggesting ways to save water in daily life.