Fair on conservation of canals concludes with clean-up drive

Dehradun: The three-day canal conservation fair, ‘Revive Canals, Revive Doon', organised by TOI in partnership with Pacific Mall and various social organisations, concluded on Sunday with a clean-up drive at Maldevta.Organisers said the fair aimed to keep the memory of Dehradun's canals alive and unite people in preserving the city's water sources. On Sunday morning, ‘Been There, Doon That', a Dehradun-based social organisation, led a walk to commemorate the once-abundant water sources in Raipur and Maldevta. "While many canals and water sources are already lost, it is crucial to keep their memories alive and preserve those on the brink of disappearing," Lokesh Ohri, founder of the organisation, told TOI. Organisers stressed the need for awareness among both locals and tourists to protect these vital resources, and added that efforts must be made by every individual.A clean-up drive followed at Donali in Maldevta, with students and residents participating alongside senior irrigation department officials. "Restoration and revival of water sources is part of the department's routine work. We will continue efforts to clean and preserve as many as possible. Both locals and tourists must make conscious efforts to keep them garbage-free—it's a collective responsibility," said irrigation department secretary R Rajesh Kumar.As part of the fair, a photography exhibition was held displaying Dehradun's historic canals, while awareness workshops, nukkad nataks, storytelling sessions, and expert discussions highlighted concerns over depleting water bodies. A signature campaign was also organised to rally support for conservation efforts.