Observing World Water Day 2026

On 22nd March, World Water Day was observed in several parts of Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, including Barguda village under Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi district of Odisha; Sakraicha Panchayat in Phulwari Block of Patna district, Bihar; Shahpur Gram Panchayat in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh; and Meghatari Panchayat in Koderma district of Jharkhand.

The day was marked by several awareness programmes and creative activities on the theme “Safe Water.” These included colorful drawing competitions, cultural events, cleanliness drives, waterbody cleaning initiatives, rallies promoting water conservation, as well as debates, quizzes, role plays, and speeches to engage diverse community members. Participants also reflected on their daily water usage and explored ways to reduce and save water.

Additionally, water samples from various sources were tested by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) using 12 parameters as part of live demonstration. The findings revealed that several drinking water sources were unsafe, as some with high iron content and others contaminated with arsenic, making them unfit for consumption. Communities were encouraged to switch to safer water sources and adopt appropriate filtration methods.