SRINAGAR: Amar Singh College Srinagar launched its week-long World Environment Day 2024 celebrations today. The event, organized by the Department of Environmental Science in collaboration with Eco-club Shehjar, will run from June 1 to June 5.
Principal of Amar Singh College, Prof. (Dr.) Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, inaugurated the celebrations. The opening day featured a cleanliness drive in and around the college campus, with over 60 Eco-club and NSS volunteers, along with faculty members from the Department of Environmental Science, participating.
Following the cleanliness drive, a seminar on “Challenges of Land Degradation in Kashmir Valley” was held. Dr. Bazigha Badar, Head of the Department of Environmental Science, introduced the seminar, which was followed by a welcome speech from Prof. (Dr.) Sheikh Aijaz Bashir. In his inaugural address, Prof. Bashir emphasized the importance of such events in promoting environmental awareness and working collectively towards Sustainable Development Goals.
The seminar included two technical sessions. In the first session, Mudasir Hussain Choudhary, Secretary of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, discussed the “Challenges in the Management of Solid Waste in Srinagar City.” He detailed the difficulties in waste collection, transport, segregation, and disposal, and highlighted SMC’s initiatives and future plans for more efficient waste management.
The second session featured Prof. (Dr.) Farooq Ahmad Lone, Head of the Department of Environmental Science at SKUAST-K Shalimar, who delivered an insightful talk on “Land Degradation and its Impact on Agriculture in Kashmir Valley.” He discussed the causes and seriousness of land degradation and desertification on global, national, and local levels.
Dr. Rayees Ahmad Magray, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, gave the concluding remarks, and Prof. Zubair Ahmad Wani, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, presented the vote of thanks.