Folk urged to help preserve rivers

Date : 22 June 2009
Source : The Star
Title : Folk urged to help preserve rivers

By EDWARD RAJENDRA

WATER Association of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (SWAn) president Tan Sri Rozali Ismail has called for a vigorous campaign for river preservation in the state. Rozali was speaking at the association’s third annual general meeting where he urged Selangorians to come forward and lend a hand in keeping rubbish out of the rivers and prevent water wastage in an initiative to conserve the precious gift of nature.

Calling for the people’s involvement in saving the rivers from pollution, he said the association had made some headway it educating the younger generation through school programmes. “We want to bring the message to the adults through the children. Children can influence their parents and our agenda is to get them to educate their parents,” he said.

Rozali said concerted efforts were needed to be taken by the authorities to make anti-pollution river campaigns effective, adding that people have to play their part in the conservation of the ecosystem in the state. He said there was no point in holding such campaigns unless people come forward and understand the importance of eco-friendly measures.

“We must not kill our rivers through the disposal of non-biodegradable waste products. But all this is possible only if people cooperate,” he said. Meanwhile, Energy, Green Technology and Water deputy secretary-general Datuk Nur Azmal Mohd Nazir, who read out the speech by Minister Noriah Kasnon, said engaging youths was another integral part of the water loop.

“Our youth are naturally passionate about the environment, particularly tertiary students. I am inspired that SWAn will hold activities with varsity students in their outreach programmes to achieve environmental sustainability,” he said.