Mission LiFE: Nature Study Camp and Workshop Focuses on Water, Energy Conservation

By A Staff Reporter: 

Kalimpong: A three-day Nature Study Camp and Environmental Workshop under the Mission LiFE program commenced at Pokhri Ground, Samsing, on December 31, 2024. The initiative is organized by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, in associate with Himalayan Nature & Adventure Foundation.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Shomik Pal, Assistant Secretary, HNAF, emphasized its importance in educating students about pressing environmental issues. “The program is designed not just to raise awareness about nature and wildlife conservation but also to address critical challenges such as water and energy management,” Mr. Pal said.

The workshop highlighted the water crisis in Samsing, attributed to over-extraction for agriculture, declining groundwater levels, and disrupted natural streams like Mukti and Suntali Kona. “Groundwater depletion due to excessive boring and climatic changes has caused traditional water sources like Pokhri Ground to dry up completely,” he noted.

Participants, primarily school students, were introduced to practical solutions for water conservation, including using buckets instead of showers and managing tap water efficiently. “Students, as future leaders, must understand the gravity of these issues and take these lessons forward,” Mr. Pal stressed.

The workshop also addressed energy management, advocating for a shift toward renewable sources and reducing dependency on non-renewable energy. These measures align with the broader objectives of Mission LiFE, which aims to instill sustainable practices in daily life.

As temperatures in the region hit unseasonal highs, organizers underscored the urgency of climate action. The camp’s interactive approach ensures students become ambassadors of sustainability, passing knowledge through generations and creating a ripple effect of positive change.