Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 5: The World Environment Day was celebrated across the region by organizing various functions and programmes by the Government and Non-government organizations, besides schools, colleges and Army units today.
Eleven persons including Excelsior scribe, heads of two noted NGOs working in the field of environment and some serving Forest officers were felicitated at function, on the occasion of World Environment Day here today.
The theme of this World Environment Day (2015) was “Seven billion dreams, one planet; consume with care,” which speaks of preserving the natural resources at grass-root level across the globe. Several functions were organised in Jammu city also to mark the day (June 5), with a message to work together to save planet earth.
An impressive function was jointly organised by the Gandhi Global Family- an NGO and State Forest department at Forest Information Centre here today. Noted Environmentalist Maj Gen (Retd) G S Jamwal, president of Paryavarn Sanstha J&K, was the chief guest while former Member J&K Public Service Commission and a top retired IFS officer, R L Bharti presided over. Madan Lal Dogra, retired Superintending Engineer and noted environmentalist was guest of honour. Conservator of Forests, East Circle Jammu, B M Sharma and president Gandhi Global Family Padamshree S P Varma were also present besides several Forest officials and members of NGOs working in the field of environment protection in the region. A message from Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, was also read on the occasion.
Gen (Retd) Jamwal, while speaking on the occasion referred to the challenges being faced by the people due to depleting water table, deforestation and environment pollution. He said there is need of strong awareness among the masses at all level and it is the collective responsibility of all the members of the society, not only the Government agencies or NGOs. There is need to work with dedication and commitment by all the agencies for environment protection and maintain cleanliness in the surroundings.
While referring to the scattered garbage heaps on roads of Jammu city, Gen Jamwal issued appeal to the members of civil society from the platform today, to contribute for donating bins to the JMC and also install at their own in their lanes so that people of temple city develop habit of throwing household garbage into them and not on the lanes and roads. He lauded the soldiers of TA battalions of the Army who are contributing a lot in planting trees in Shivalik region.
R L Bharti, advisor to the GGF spoke on the importance of this day and said much more is needed to be done for the protection of environment. He appreciated the contribution of the people working in the field and also encouraged the awardees for working with the same zeal and dedication.
M L Dogra cautioned the people of Jammu about the challenges ahead with the fast depletion of water table, deforestation, encroachments on Forest land and nallahs, inviting trouble during floods. He said Sept 2014 floods have opened the eyes of the people but no body is ready to learn the lesson. He said Tawi artificial lake will pose great threat to environment as many city nallas are directly flowing to the river. Untill all the city drains are diverted to Bhagwati Nagar STP, this project can not prove successful.
B M Sharma spoke on the importance of the day and recalled the history when on June 1973 this day was first adopted as World Environment Day by the United Nations and celebrated across the world. He referred to the impact of global warming, industrial pollution, threat to environment due to felling of trees and shrinking resources due to increasing population. He also recalled the Chipko Andolan and other great movements on environment protection and said that all these movements were connected with non-violence, a big weapon of Mahatma Gandhi. He disclosed that a Forest land near Bachan depot/ Shahidi Sathal on Bahu Road has been identified for raising `Samiri Van’, where anyone can plant sapling of a tree in the sweet memory of his departed dear one. Forest Department plans to raise a good green forest strip there involving community.
On this occasion, Padam-shree S P Varma and R L Bharti and the chief guest felicitated the people for their outstanding contribution in the field of environment. Maj Gen G S Jamwal was honoured with Mahatma Gandhi Paryavarn Award for Life Time achievement by the Gandhi Global Family.
Other awardees included, B M Sharma (CF East Circle Jammu); DFO Jammu, Dr V S Senthil Kumar; Gopal Sharma Special Correspondent, Daily Excelsior; B L Parimoo, noted environmentalist and president Environment Awareness Forum J&K; Ajeet Chander, Range Officer Bahu Range of Jammu Forest Division, Khushal Singh, Noor Ahmed and Surjit Singh-Foresters. DFO Billawar, Satpal Pakhru and DFO Jammu (UF) Som Dutt were also present on the occasion and felicitated. Two children Ms Uzma Akhtar from DPS and Master Utkarsh were also honoured.
Department of Environ-mental Sciences, University of Jammu in collaboration with AKKA, celebrated World Environment Day on varsity campus here. The function started with planting of an Amla sapling in the department premises by Prof RD Sharma, vice- chancellor, University of Jammu, who was the chief guest on the occasion. The faculty and staff also planted Amla saplings around the department to commemorate this day.
Later, a valedictory- cum- prize distribution function was organized to honour the volunteers and students who participated in series of awareness activities conducted by the department on important environmental related days.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof RD Sharma encouraged the students and scholars to keep the university clean by organizing cleanliness activities within the campus at least once in a week and also include volunteers from other departments in such activities.
Meanwhile, the World Environment Day was celebrated by the J&K State Pollution Control Board, Ramban in collaboration with the Bhartiya Vidya Mandir High School, Ramban, Beg Construction Company (BCC), 109 Inf Bn (TA) Maratha LI (Army) and Green Alternatives (NGO) at Ramban today.
On the occasion students of six schools participated in an inter-school debate competition on ‘Environmental Waste Management -A step towards Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. The programme was jointly inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bukhari and Kuldip Bhan, Divisional Officer (DO), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Ramban.
While addressing the valedictory session, MLA Ramban, Neelam Langeh emphasized on the need of waste management on safe and scientific management principles. He eulogized the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for initiating a country wide awakening movement through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The day was celebrated by the Rashtriya Rifles battalion based at Bagga and Kalal under the aegis of Rashtriya Rifles Force Headquarter based at Reasi by organising a series of informative programmes in coordination with students and staff of Senior Secondary School, Mahore.
Various programmes including plantation of saplings and a lecture on “Preservation of Environment” followed by a quiz competition for the students were organized on the occasion. Prizes were awarded to the students at the end of competition. SDM, Mahore, DFO, Reasi and a host of army dignitaries graced the event.
Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, located at Bhadarwah, under Delta Force today organised a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan at Sitengal in Bhadarwah Tehsil to commemorate the importance of World Environment Day.
The drive was inaugurated by Ashraf Bhatt, local Sarpanch in the presence of a number of villagers and Army personnel. A lecture was delivered on the occasion by an officer of the Rashtriya Rifles to the youth and villagers. He explained the villagers about the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation for a healthy society. This was followed by a mass drive of youth and a total of 20-25 villagers and army persons took part in cleaning every nook and corner of the village.
Young Drukpa Association (YDA) in collaboration with Women Alliance of Ladakh (WAL) and PAGIR today celebrated World Environment Day in a very unique way in Leh. A procession by members of YDA, WAL, PAGIR, SECMOL and large number of environment lovers holding banners and pamphlets started from WAL complex Chubi and culminated at Council Secretariat, Leh spreading awareness among general masses about the protection of Ladakh’s fragile environment and keeping the surroundings clean and healthy.
President YDA, Padma Tashi, highlighting the importance of day readout the five point memorandum which includes, to make Ladakh a polythene free zone, ban on washing vehicles and cloths at Shey Mord ( Sindhu Ghat), ban on disposal cups and plates in Leh, check and balance on the old diesel vehicles to keep the air pollution of Leh under control and for initiating extra cleaning drive in the main Leh nullah. Later, the same five point memorandum was handed over to Executive Councilor Health Dr Sonam Wangchuk at Council complex.
Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA) organized a one-day workshop on ‘Climatic change, causes and its effects’at Sarwal, Jammu, in connection with World Environment Day. The workshop was presided over by former District and Sessions Judge, Choudhary Vidya Sagar who in his address explained the causes leading to ecological imbalances and suggested that to arrest the climatic changes and restored the ecological balance, there is dire need to have massive plantation.
In order to celebrate the Environment Day, Forest Department Bhalessa Range in collaboration with Educational, Environmental, Social, Sports, and Cultural Society Bhalessa (Doda) organized an Environment awareness program at Gandoh. The program was presided over by Din Mohd Afaqi, Tehsildar Gandoh where as SDPO Gandoh, Bushan Kumar Ganju was the chief guest and Mohd Ayoub Zarger, chairman, EESS&CS, was guest of honor. Speaking on the occasion, Zarger, threw light on all the factors which lead to loss of bio-diversity in the area.
World Environment Day was also celebrated at Salal Power Station, Jyotipuram, where AG Ansari, General Manager, Salal Power Station, along with others planted saplings. Speaking on the occasion, Ansari requested all employees to take care of the saplings they planted so that initiative taken persists and contributes for better environment.
The Institution of Engineers, Jammu, celebrated World Environment Day in its auditorium at Channi Himmat, Jammu by organizing a seminar on the theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care” in which large number of engineers, Environment lovers, academicians and members of the civil society participated. Er Inderjeet Singh, FIE; former Chief Engineer, Hydraulics, Jammu was the chief guest.
The World Environment Day was celebrated by Shakti Punj, an NGO in front of tehsil office Hiranagar. The volunteers of the organization displayed banners, placards and pamphlets depicting the importance of water and plants. President of the organization, Kuljeet Singh Bablu said as the people consume far more natural resources than what the planet can sustainably provides, Environment Day is a reminder to do more and better with less.
In connection with World Emvironment Day, Sharda Lal Educational & Cultural Trust (SLECT), Muthi (Jammu) in collaboration with Jammu Rural Development Society, Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action, J&K Chapter and Sanskar Bharati, organized an Inter-school Quiz competition for students of Class IX to XII of Government High School, Muthi and Shining Star High School, Muthi. Chief guest, Rachna Goswami, awarded merit and participation certificates among the students.
The day was also celebrated by students of IPTS Heights School Khansahib who came out of the school and assembled in Khansahib town. The SDPO Khansahib Bashir Ahmad and Social Activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat flagged off the rally wherein students were carrying placards and banners carried slogans like ‘Save Kashmir, Green Kashmir’.
On the occasion of “World Environment Day” the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion and Territorial Army unit under Delta Force organised various activities for school students of Ramban, Metra, Khari and Nachlana. A plantation drive was also organised in the areas of Khari and Nachlana. Addressing the students, MLA Ramban, DC Ramban and District Forest officials urged the youth and students to take positive and concrete actions to protect environment and nature. In another event, Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under Romeo Force, conducted a lecture on Environment, in Rajouri.
The eco club of Model Academy in collaboration with World Wide Fund (WWF) celebrated World Environment Day in the school premises. The drive started with Dr Adit Gupta, Joint Director MIER, planting the first sapling followed by the plantation drive by the students. The students took the pledge of protecting the environment with great zeal and enthusiasm by writing messages like – love trees, hug trees, protect trees and plant more trees.
The day was celebrated at MS Lair in which students took part in drawing and poster making competition on the topic ‘Save Your Environment’ organised under the guidance of Gopal Sharma, ZEO Pouni. Head Master, Jatinder Dev while speaking on the occasion threw light on the issues and challenges of environment and asked the students to live in close harmony with nature and adopt healthy life style.
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