Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: To create awareness about the scientific, social and economic aspects of the Earth System, various educational institutions celebrated Earth Day with scientific zeal, here today.
On the eve of World Earth Day, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu in collaboration with WWF-India J&K State Office organized a one day conference on the theme “Impact of Climate Change on the sustainability of Ecosystems”.
The event started with the inaugural session in the morning. Maj. General (Rtd) Gorvardhan Singh Jamwal was the chief guest on the occasion and Prof Shashi Kant, former HoD Department of Botany, University of Jammu was the guest of honour.
After welcome address by Prof Raj Kumar Rampal, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, key note lecture was delivered by Major General G S Jamwal, while Dr Seth, Director, WWF India, J&K Chapter, stressed upon the need of intensive scientific research on the impact of climate change on the livelihood of traditional communities in the remote areas of J&K.
Prof Shashi Kant enlightened the audience about the changing lifestyle of the present generation and its impact on the sustainability of natural resources.
The first technical session was chaired by Mr O P Sharma (Vidhyarthi) Chief Conservator, Eco-tourism and the second by Prof SPS Dutta, Former Head, Department of Environmental Sciences. Dr Piyush Malaviya and Dr Neeraj Sharma acted as raporteur for these sessions respectively.
Suresh Chugh IFS, Director, Department of Environment and Remote Sensing J&K was the chief guest during the valedictory function of the conference. He enlightened the audience about the State of Environment of Jammu and Kashmir State which has recently been published by the Department.
Dr Deepika Salathia, presented formal vote of thanks. The proceeding of the one day conference was conducted by Dr Ritu Jasrotia.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Prof Manoj Dhar, Controller Examination, University of Jammu, Prof Anil K Raina, Dr Sanjay Sharma, Maloop Singh, Govinder Singh, from Paryavaran Sanstha, J&K.
Meanwhile, the students of Heritage School, Jammu were enthusiastic participants in the Earth Day Rally, organized by Van Sampda, an NGO working for the cause of environment, here today.
The students carried placards to educate the community about the impending dangers of the environment and also educated the congregation about the use of green technology.
School authorities said that the School aims to make the students active participants in such events, as leaders of tomorrow it is vital that they are equipped with the understanding and knowledge necessary to stand up for the cause of environment.
On the eve of World Earth Day 2013, the students and the teachers of KV No 1 Udhampur united to conserve Mother Earth in their self-styled manner. One group of students collected the floating stones of the campus and made different cactus corners, while another group uprooted congress grads and other harmful weeds & buried them in an unfertile corner. One group was busy in maintaining Rose Garden by adding organic manure and showing water as such.
A special group of students took initiative to conserve the mini forest of the Vidyalaya by removing plastic wrappers and weeds.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Vice Principal, Vikram Aditya, Librarian, Raman and teachers Anita Jamwal, Sidharth, Purohit and Lallu Jee.
Advisor of Nature Club, PK Shukla presented vote of thanks.
On the eve of Earth Day, Apple Kids Bakshi Nagar in association with Indus Und Bank launched a one day tree plantation drive at Rajinder Park Canal Road Jammu.
The students and teachers of the School and the Bank staff participated in the drive with enthusiasm and fervour.
On the occasion, Gurjeet Kour, chairperson of the School enlightened the students for keeping balance of the earth by planting maximum trees. She said that tree plantation is a noble cause and a service towards the nation.
GD Goenka Public School Jammu celebrated Earth Day with great enthusiasm, here today.
The message ‘Save Earth’ was highlighted by the students by creating colourful and crisp posters and writings on the topic.
The students were asked to be present in their green, orange and blue house uniforms signifying natural environment such as greenery, water and sky.
Students prepared a human-chain with the message ‘Save Earth’ and also formed a figure showing the depleting forest reserves, besides singing songs highlighting the importance of preserving environment.
School Principal, Jyoti Asija, on the occasion made a speech regarding the importance of preserving environment.
Government Higher Secondary School Muthi in association with Army Public School Domana and Abhay Public School Muthi celebrated Earth Day under the supervision of RL Gupta, Principal GHSS Muthi with fervour, here today.
On the occasion, the students of all participating schools showcased their presentations and put forth their views.
The students of Army School presented a skit on the theme ‘Save the Environment’.
Later-on prizes were distributed amongst the students who participated in the essay competition ‘Environmental Changes after Independence’.
RL Gupta highlighted the importance of Earth Day and asked the students to be eco-friendly by planting more and mote trees.
On the eve of the Earth Day 2013, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir is organizing a series of activities in the Valley to create awareness about scientific, social and economic aspects of the Earth System.
The inaugural session of the Earth Day 2013 was held today in the University campus which was later followed by a brainstorming technical session on the theme titled “Research Strategies for understanding Earth System Science and its linkages with society”.
The inaugural session was presided over by Prof Shakil A Romshoo, Head Department of Earth Sciences and was attended by various heads of Departments, faculty members from various Departments of KU, research scholars and students.
While speaking, he emphasized the need for strengthening these collaborative efforts so that the benefits of the advancement in the field of Science and Technology are delivered to the community.
Later a brainstorming plenary session among invited participants from the academia, Government and the civil society was held to discuss various aspects of the Earth System Science mainly focusing on the science and societal linkages.
29 papers were presented in the technical session with diverse themes related to Himalayan Cryosphere, Disaster management, Water Resources, Urbanization, Pollution, Climate Change, Hydrometeorology, Energy crisis and land system changes.
To mark 43rd World Earth Day and focus on Earth resources and its ecological services, Department of Dogri, Punjabi, and Environmental Sciences Campus was chosen to sensitize the students and scholars about ethnoconservation practiced by communities since Vedic times much before Western World had its first ever Earth Day in 1970.
Prof Shivdev Singh Manhas while reflecting on the importance of sacred groves highlighted that the local communities had nurtured ethnoconservation by establishing green patches of woodland or tree groves around sacred shrines like Baba Ambo at Mathwar, Nagbani grove at Nagbani, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to provide peace and tranquility to the pilgrims visiting these Shrines.
The scholars who presented their views on the occasion included Shivali, Kirti, Jyoti, Akanksha, Pankaj, Assudullah, Krishan, Priya, Barneet and Kulvinder Kaur.
Prof Yash Pal, Prof Raj Kumar Rampal, Dr Ritu Jasrotia and OP Sharma Vidyarthi also spoke on the occasion.
Dharmender Khajuria, COO Bharti Airtel J&K and the other staff members planted saplings at SOS Balgran, Channi Rama during a plantation drive on the occasion of Earth Day.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to save Mother Earth and promoting idea of saving it from various man made evils like pollution, global warming, deforestation etc, Nirvana Academy in association with Mind Scapes Educational and Environmental Trust today launched a campaign ‘The Face of Climate Change’ which aims to inspire awareness and appreciation for earth’s environment.
The campaign will feature a neighbourhood clean-up, speakers, educational workshops and an environmentally themed school song competition on the eve of Earth Day 2013.
The programme was launched in presence of galaxy of dignitaries from the field of music and art.
Meenakshi Sharma, general secretary, Nirvana Academy and Ashutosh Dubey, Hitesh Badyal and Rajesh Gupta spoke on the occasion, while prominent among those present on the occasion were Mohan Lal Sharma, Parveen Gupta, Rajesh Gupta, Umesh Sharma, Krishan Lal Verma, Prem Gupta and Nishant Vaid.
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