SRINAGAR: To raise awareness about environment and ecology among the masses, various functions were held across Kashmir on the eve of ‘World Environment Day’ on Sunday.
Every year, this day is observed as the day dedicated to educating masses about the environment, planting trees and clean surroundings besides raising awareness on environmental issues.
This year the theme for the ‘World Environment Day’ was ‘Only One Earth’.
At Ganderbal: The World Environment Day was today celebrated with great enthusiasm across the district and witnessed various activities including rallies, plantation and sanitation drives, painting competitions besides seminars.
The main function was organized by the Municipal Council Ganderbal during which various activities were carried out under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shyambir.
The rally was held from Duderhama Chowk and went through the town during which participants carried placards, encouraging everyone to live sustainably and address the climate catastrophes.
Meanwhile, the cycle rally was also held which was kick started by the DC from Duderhama to Sindh View Park Fatehpora.
Furthermore, plantation drive, painting competition and sanitation drive was also held at Sind View Park.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC urged all the participants to grow more and more plants in their localities for environmental sustainability.
Expressing great concern for the incessant degradation of the environment, the DC said that it is time for the people to stop harming nature and polluting it further to save it for future generations.
Later, the students who participated in cycle rally and painting competition were felicitated by the DC at Sindh View Park.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba; President Municipal Council Ganderbal, Hilal Ahmad, ACP, CEO, EO Municipal Council Ganderbal, other District Officers besides students of various educational institutions of the district participated in these events.
At Baramulla, To mark the celebration of World Environment Day, Department of Tourism Kashmir in collaboration with Social Forestry Department and Department of School Education today organised an array of activities at the historical Eco Park, Baramulla in which stakeholders from different walks of life participated with zeal and fervour.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar presided over the function whereas functionaries of several departments including Tourism, Forest and Education marked their presence.
On the occasion, a Painting Competition underlying the theme of the day ”Only One Earth”, was organised in which students from different educational institutions participated. A cycling competition was also conducted as part of the programme. Best performing students, in both events, were felicitated by the DC over their performance.
Highlighting the importance of the World Environment Day, the DC said that every individual must fundamentally rethink his relationship with the living world, natural ecosystem, and its biodiversity.
She said the World Environment Day is people’s day which is celebrated as a concern for our environment and the day provides an important platform for promoting the dimensions of environmental sustainable development goals.
In another session a rally was taken out jointly by school children staff and other participants in order to spread environment day message to the general public and a cleanness drive was held in the park in order to sensitise people about the importance of environmental sustainability. A plantation drive was also organised wherein the DC planted a tree sapling in order to encourage and motivate others to take part in plantation activities.
Meanwhile, an awareness program to disseminate electoral literacy was also organised under SVEEP during which the new voters with special focus on students, were familiarised about their voting rights. They were also educated about the electoral phenomenon in a democratic setup so that they are sensitized about the government and governance structures.
Among Others President Municipal Council Baramulla Tauseef Raina, Assistant Director Tourism Zeeshan Khan, Divisional Forest Officer JV Division Baramulla Parveez Ahmad Wani, Divisional Forest Officer SFC Arshad Ahmad Lala, Nodal Officer Sveep Balbir Singh Raina,PRI’s Senior Citizens and students were present on the occasion.
At Anantnag, the World Environment Day was celebrated as per the directions of the District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner) under SVEEP programme at BHSS and GHSS Bijbehara.
Deputy District Election Officer , Nazia Hassan was the Chief Guest of the programme. Other officers including Tehsildar Bijbehara Gh. Rasool, District Education Planning Officer Mohd Yousf Jan (Nodal Officer SVEEP) and Principals of both the Schools were present.
During the programme, different events were held including Plantation and Cleanliness drives. Students of both the schools actively participated in the programme.
The main focus was to recognize that every breath of air we take, every morsel of food that we take comes from the natural world and if we damage the natural world, it will affect our well-being. We are one coherent ecosystem. It’s not just a question of beauty or interest or wonder- the essential ingredient of human life is a healthy planet. They also added that it is a day to spread awareness about protecting the environment.
Similar programs were held along the length and breadth of the district with all EROs/ AEROs ensuring plantation drives at their level and in each polling station of the district.
Meanwhile, programmes to observe environment day were also held in various Panchayats of the district. Plantation drives were held in various educational institutions organized by the Eco Clubs and Electoral Literacy Clubs. Students were at the forefront pledging to take measures at preserving our environment.
At Kulgam, the main function to celebrate ‘World Environment Day’ was held at Mini Secretariat, here and was organized by District Election Office Kulgam in collaboration with RDD and Forest Department.
The programme was presided over by District Development Council (DDC) Chairperson, Mohd Afzal Parrey and Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat.
On the occasion, the speakers from schools, civil society and various departments highlighted the historical background of the day and added that collectively we have to work to preserve and safeguard the environment from more depletion.
Speaking on the occasion, the DDC Chairperson said that the environment has been damaged badly and we humans are responsible for this degradation. He said that now we have to wake up and play our part to safeguard and preserve the environment from further destruction.
The Deputy Commissioner while speaking on the occasion said that seminars, debates and rallies on environment are ok, but he strongly advocated to adopt these things practically in day to day chorus and termed it pivotal to witness positive and desired change in our environment.
We must not stick only to words but rather have to adopt an environmentally friendly approach and for that we have to change our attitude and become environment conscious which is the need of hour’, he added.
ADC, DFO Social Forestry, ACD, Tehsildar Kulgam, Tehsildar Headquarter and other officers besides people from various parts of district and students participated in this programme.
A plantation drive was also carried out on the occasion which was kick started by the DDC Chairperson and the Deputy Commissioner.
World Environment Day was celebrated across the district with functions held at block, tehsil and district level.
At Kupwara, On the eve of World Environment Day, District Administration Kupwara in collaboration with Lolab Bangus Drangyari Development Authority (LBDDA), Social Forestry, Education, MCs and other departments today organized various functions at different places of the district including at Kupwara, Handwara, Lolab and Kalaroos.
The main function was held at Town Hall Kupwara which was chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kupwara who is also CEO of LBDDA Kupwara, Ghulam Nabi Bhat; Chief Education Officer Kupwara, ACR, Accounts Officer D.C office Kupwara, besides, students of GHSS Salkoot Kupwara, My New School Drugmulla and field functionaries participated in the function.
Speaking at the occasion, the DC emphasized the need for developing sensitivity towards protection of the environment and surroundings. He said multi-dimensional climatic threats have come into existence which need to be addressed for our healthy survival. He advised the student community to play their role in disseminating the message of environment protection, adding that the children is the future of the nation which have greater responsibilities to shoulder ahead.
The DC urged upon the people from all walks of life to play their role in reducing carbon footprints in their daily lives which will help to reduce the overall burden of pollution in the environment.
Regarding polythene, the DC said that polythene poses a big harm to the environment and appealed to all to avoid use of plastic bags instead use cloth bags for carrying groceries and other things.
The DC said that the environment week shall be celebrated for awareness among all stakeholders adding that drives for cleaning our water bodies will also be held.
In his address, the ADC highlighted the need for developing a sense of keeping our surroundings clean including roads, river banks and water bodies.
Other speakers including students also highlighted the importance of world environment day and provided awareness about maintaining sanitation and hygiene.
World Environmental Day was also celebrated by Social Forestry Division Kupwara at Children Park Handwara in collaboration with MC Handwara and Eco Club Alloha Handwara.
DFO Social Forestry, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad, students and officials of Social Forestry Division, MC Handwara participated with placards in the rally from Handwara Hospital to Children Park Handwara. Childrens of Eco Club Aloha also participated in painting and drawing competitions.
Prizes were given to students who performed well in the competition. It was highlighted that this day has created a platform to raise awareness that the world is facing problems such as air pollution, plastic pollution, global warming and sea level increasing day by day.
Functions with regard to the celebration of World Environment Day were also organised at Lolab, Kalaroch by the department of Social Forestry.
At Bandipora, Pledge taking ceremony was held at S.K Stadium Bandipora where Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora Dr. Owais Ahmed administered the cleanliness pledge to the students of Ali Aports Academy.
Padma Shree awardee Faisal Ali Dar also participated in the pledge taking ceremony.
Earlier, the students conducted a cleanliness drive.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Owais urged people to come together in addressing environmental issues as this planet earth is our only home which we need to protect and preserve for our own survival.
He said preserving the environment and its cleanliness is our moral responsibility and everyone must ensure that every effort is made to preserve the fragile ecology of earth.
He said everyone must understand the importance and need to preserve our surroundings. He also mentioned Shafaf-Bandipora, an initiative of District Administration where different departments will be conducting cleanliness drives and awareness rallies for clean Bandipora.
Dr. Owais urged the youth to actively participate in environment preservation and cleanliness initiatives and also motivate others to adopt cleanliness as it helps in keeping the environment safe.
He urged the youth and students to become brand ambassadors to bring about behavioural change among people to save the environment.