An insightful session on the revival of Ramgarh Lake took place at Rambagh Palace on April 13, 2024, in Jaipur, organised by the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR) in collaboration with the Jaipur citizens-led Reviving Ramgarh Lake campaign. The evening commenced with the poster release of “Revive and Save Ramgarh Lake” by the members of the FHTR.
The panellists for the discussion included Ashok Rathore, Area Director and General Manager, Rambagh Palace; Rakesh Sharma, Additional Director, Rajasthan Tourism; Kuldeep Singh Chandela, President FHTR and HRAR; Thakur Dushyant Singh of Naila, Head of Revival Ramgarh Lake Movement; Mahaveer Punia, Head, Remote Sensing Divisions, Birla Institute of Technology, Jaipur; Chhavi Rajawat Indian Politician and First MBA Sarpanch of India; Ambuj Tyagi, Superintendent Engineer DRIP, Jaipur; and Bineet Chhajer, Professor, Aayojan School of Architecture, Jaipur.
Kuldeep Chandela expressed lament over the failure to safeguard Ramgarh Lake, emphasising the imperative of its revival for the benefit of future generations. Ashok Rathore highlighted that the revival of Ramgarh Lake symbolises the revival of heritage and history, transcending political agendas to become a social movement. With Jaipur’s water levels already dipping below scarcity thresholds, water conservation becomes paramount, urging the younger generation’s involvement.
Chhavi Rajawat stressed the necessity of collective action among citizens, identifying them as the true stakeholders in the endeavour, advocating for holistic development. Dushyant Naila pinpointed anicuts as the primary cause of the lake’s desiccation, proposing strategies such as keeping doors open until reservoir levels reach a certain threshold and promoting tourism initiatives like the Ramgarh Festival.
Ambuj Tyagi attributed the lake’s drying to shifting land use patterns, climate change, and disruptions in the drainage system due to highway construction. Rakesh Sharma emphasised considering not only the reservoir but also the entire ecosystem surrounding it, advocating for a comprehensive approach encompassing village, eco, and nature tourism. Sunil Pachar underscored the importance of adopting circular water usage practices over linear ones in his presentation.
Bineet Chhajer said that there are a large number of wells in the boundary walls of Jaipur, which are now closed due to being filled with garbage. He mentioned, “This is our heritage, which should be restored. It is necessary to conserve rainwater. For this, we all have to come together and start from our homes.”
Earlier, Mahaveer Punia delivered a detailed presentation elucidating the technicalities of Ramgarh Lake from its inception to the present. The vote of thanks on the occasion was extended by Surendra Singh Shahpurag.
 in collaboration with the Jaipur citizens-led Reviving Ramgarh Lake campaign. The evening commenced with the poster release of "Revive and Save Ramgarh Lake" by the members of the FHTR.){kind=link}