CUJ organizes awareness programme on ‘Polythene Free Campus’

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: The Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jammu (CUJ), Jammu organized an awareness programme on Polythene Free Campus in the temporary Academic Block of the University, Sainik Colony today.
Inaugurating the function, the CUJ Vice-Chancellor Prof Devanand threw light on the damage caused to our environment due to these non-biodegradable polythene bags and suggested the use of cloth and brown paper bags as these come from renewable sources, are biodegradable, re-useable, and recyclable.
He also emphasized that if we use these alternatives, we can save at least 6 polythene bags a week. That’s 24 bags a month, 288 bags a year and 22,176 bags in an average life time. The VC stressed to act promptly and drastically to cut polythene and say no to polythene bags.
Earlier, Prof H S Sehgal, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences and Dean School of Life Sciences CUJ, introduced the audience about the basic structure and types of polythenes and their stay in the environment even for 1000 years. Ten lakh birds, 1 lakh whales, seals and countless fishes die due to ingestion of and choking by polythene bags, disclosed Prof Sehgal.
Prof N R Sharma, Dean Students Welfare, highlighted the use of jute and other environment-friendly material for carrying things. He narrated the initiatives taken by Himachal Pradesh.
Senior officers of the University including the Registrar, Jit Singh, Senior Consultant, Dr P S Pathania, Academic Coordinator, Prof Shyam Singh, OSD Finance, H K Prashar, Consultant (Land), V K Gupta and Executive Engineer, R P Gupta were also present.
The Department of Environmental Sciences also organized 4 inter-departmental competitions including debate, on-the-spot poster making competition, Collage making competition, and slogan framing competition.
Dr Pankaj Mehta, Asstt. Prof extended formal vote of thanks while Dr Angelika Sharma, Asstt Professor of the Department of Environmental Sciences, CUJ conducted the stage.