World Environment Day celebrated across the country

Saturday June 06, 2015 , 11 min Read

Marking the World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today planted a sapling at the lawns of his Race Course Road residence and exhorted people to work for protecting the environment for the sake of future generations. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said people should take pride in the number of trees planted by them the same way they take pride in worldly possessions.

He said that living in harmony with nature is the only way to avoid a catastrophic situation on Mother Earth. Pitching for taking steps to protect the earth, Modi said, “Our ancestors have done it for us and now it is our responsibility to preserve it for the future generations.” He placed a traditional earthen-pot (matka) along with a ‘Kadamb’ sapling, which is a traditional way of conserving water and ensuring that the sapling has regular water supply, a PMO statement said.

Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Prakash Javadekar, was present on the occasion. He stressed on the need to involve people in protecting the environment and said his ministry’s objective was to work towards clean water, air and energy. “The Ministry’s mandate is to strike a balance between the five elements of nature. The Ministry’s mission is directed towards clean water, air, energy, environment and more green. To achieve this, a people’s movement and the participation of people is needed,” Javadekar said during an event in the Ministry to mark the World Environment Day.

Two books titled ‘Plant Discoveries’ brought out by the Botanical Survey of India and “Animal Discoveries” brought out by the Zoological Survey of India were also released on the occasion. An MoU was signed between the Environment Ministry and Noida for the development of Botanic Garden of Indian Republic (BGIR) in Noida. Minister of State, Zoological Gardens, Uttar Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Yadav said the botanical garden would act as a centre for botanical research and help scholars to carry out studies on rare species of plants. Union Environment secretary Ashok Lavasa also hoped that a large number of trees would also be planted throughout the country.

Javadekar also presented environment-related awards on the occasion. The Young Environmentalist of the Year award was given to Satabti Debadulari, a student of DAV School, Chander Shekharpur (Bhubneshwar) in Odisha. The E K Janaki Ammal National Award in animal taxonomy for 2015 was given to Dr Waikhom Vishwanath for his contribution in the field of fish taxonomy, especially the fish resources of the Himalayan region. The Janaki Ammal National Award in plant taxonomy was given to Dalip Kumar Upreti for his work over the last three decades. Earlier, artists from AIR presented a ‘Prakriti Vandana’ as a tribute to the nature.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar exhorted industries and society to adopt the ‘3Rs’ of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ on World Environment Day today and urged all to opt for “less” in order to check the rate of depletion of natural resources. In his message for World Environment Day with the theme of ‘Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet, Consume with Care’, he called for a change in consumption patterns as he urged that the approach now should be to opt for ‘less’.

“Business as usual is no longer an option. Every individual has a responsibility to contribute to protect the environment and reduce the rate of depletion of natural resources. We should opt for less of water, less of energy and less of all other resources. By becoming more conscious of the ecological impact of our actions and environmental consequences of the personal choices we make, we can become agents of change,” he said.

While less than 3 per cent of the water in the world is potable, one out of seven persons does not have access to drinkable water, the minister said. Also, talking about dietary choices and habits impacting on the environment, he said that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year even as almost 1 billion people worldwide are undernourished and another 1 billion go hungry.

“The food sector accounts for around 30 per cent of the world’s total energy consumption and approximately 22 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. He said that by the year 2050, with an expected population of 9.6 billion, it is estimated that three planets would be needed to sustain the ways of living and consumption on earth.

He said that changes in natural resource base due to human activities have taken place more rapidly in the past 50 years than at any time in human history, leading to continued deterioration of the environment. “Many of the earth’s ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points of depletion, or irreversible change. By 2050, with the current consumption and production patterns and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, it is estimated that we would need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption,” Javadekar said.

Kohima

People of Nagaland observed the World Environment Day today and pledged to champion the cause of greener and healthier environment. The day was observed throughout the state by organising awareness campaigns on climate change and tree plantations and cleaning of surroundings towards healthy living. The theme of WED was “Sustainable consumption and production” with the slogan “Seven Billion People, One planet, consume with care”.

On the occasion, Nagaland Minister for Forest and Environment, Ecology and Wildlife, Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, in his message expressed concern over the change in climatic condition. He called upon everyone to take the responsibility of planting at least one tree sapling within the compound of their houses.

He said that planting a tree only during WED was not enough, but one should plant a tree and be responsible in taking care of the tree throughout the life. The minister called upon the people to celebrate WED by becoming more conscious of ecological impact while also thinking about the environmental consequences of the choices we make.

WED is observed on June 5 since 1973 to create global awareness about the importance of healthy and green environment in human lives. Many of the earth ecosystems are nearing critical levels due to depletion or irresponsible change pushed by high population growth and economic development, Kohima district Project Office of Land Resources Department Menuosietuo Tseikha said.

Kolkata

Led by a unique cab which has a mini garden fitted on top of its roof, a small group of taxi drivers today took out a rally to mark the World Environment Day. Decorated with posters on ‘Saving the Environment’ by planting and maintaining trees, the team of 20 taxi drivers brought out the rally from Tollygunj to Karunamoyee. As the drivers moved along the 10 km stretch, they distributed leaflets promoting environment protection to people on the roads.

“Our message is simple. Plant and maintain trees to reduce the effect of pollution,” 40-year-old driver Dhananjay Chakraborty, who led the rally, told PTI. His yellow-coloured Ambassador cab ‘Sobuj Rath’ (Green Chariot) was the special attraction in the campaign as it was fitted with a bed of real grass on the rooftop and a cluster of potted plants inside.

“AC taxis pollute more because they consume more fuel, but my taxi is naturally air-conditioned due to the greenery. All passengers who sit inside compliment me saying my car is cooler than all others. It is completely natural,” Chakraborty said. Passionate about plants, the taxi driver was now inspiring others in the trade to walk his way. “After seeing that my experiment with this ‘green taxi’ is successful, others are also wanting to replicate the model,” he added.

Itanangar

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa today urged the people to plant more trees to preserve the pristine green environment of the state. In his message to the people on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Governor said to address the global warming issue and for a healthy climate, the people have to preserve the flora and fauna.

He emphasised on use of renewable energy resources like solar energy and biogas, a Raj Bhawan statement said. Stating that 80 per cent of the geographical area of Arunachal Pradesh was under forest cover, Rajkhowa stressed that the state’s environment and forest department have to create more awareness to maintain it and suggested preservation of the forest cover by by planting trees. On the occasion, the Governor along with his wife Rita Rajkhowa planted mango saplings in the Raj Bhawan compound, the statement added.

Nashik

To mark the World Environment Day, the district administration and Nashik Municipal Corporation initiated a river cleanliness campaign. Under this, officials, members of non-government-organisations (NGOs), teachers, and students cleaned banks of rivers- Godavari, Nasardi,Kapila and Waghadi.

According to municipal commissioner Praveen Gedam in view of forthcoming ‘Simahstha Kumbh Mela’ which is to be celebrated as ‘Green Kumb’ several government officials, teachers and students and environmentalists cleaned areas near these rivers at 71 places.

Mumbai

On the World environment day, residents of Malabar hill, of South Mumbai and Amruta, wife of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis initiated a drive of planting saplings opposite the Girgoan Chowpatty(beach). MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Principal of Wilson college V J Sirwaiya, MCGM coporators along with over 100 students, parents and 100 other active residents from local area and locality management teams also participated in the event.

Fadnavis addressed the young crowd and presented the current carbon emissions scenario and explained how can the citizens play an important role in balancing nature by planting trees and nurturing it. Lodha also spoke with students and members present there on taking the initiative forward and encouraged all those present there to vow to preserve and improve the environment.

Shillong

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said sustainable livelihood activities of the people in the state should be linked to “sustainable ecology” in the context of concerns over issues related to climate change and global warming. “It is important for us to understand how our livelihood activities should be designed on a sustainable basis, but must also be capable of creating sustainable ecology,” Sangma said. The Chief Minister was addressing the Green Ambassador’s Conclave organised on the occasion of World Environment Day held at the State Central Library.

Stating that the state’s flagship programme has been designed to ensure sustainable ecology through promoting sustainable livelihood, Sangma said “It is not just planting trees as a part of our symbolic participation on World Environment Day, but it is a question of how actually we can have a comprehensive action plan to ensure that livelihood activities are capable of promoting positive impact on the environment.” The Chief Minister said the government wants to green the barren lands owned by farmers by giving more remunerative income than what they can have in urban areas.

“We want a more professional approach to farming and make it the most remunerative livelihood.” Later the Chief Minister in presence of state Urban Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh released a documentary film by the State Pollution Control Board, a music album on environmental awareness.

Dehradun

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul today asked people to save trees and leave them as a valuable heritage for posterity. “Planting trees and looking after them should be a priority in our lives. We should resolve today, on the occasion of World Environment Day, to save trees. Saving the environment should be a part and parcel of our day-to-day lives. If this does not happen, we will lose our natural surroundings,” he said.

Describing trees as the basis of human existence, he said that the best way to express gratitude towards nature was to carry on with Indian traditions like worshipping trees and other forms of nature. The Governor also planted a camphor sapling at Raj Bhawan to mark the occasion.

New Delhi

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today led his Cabinet colleagues and state government officials in taking a pledge to support environmental conservation and also planted a sapling at Delhi Secretariat here.

“We must take the pledge seriously (to protect nature) and imbibe it in our daily life,” the chief minister said before administering the pledge to the ministers of his Cabinet, senior officers and Delhi government employees at the plaza of the Delhi Secretariat.

Kejriwal also flagged off some electric vehicles to mark the occasion. The chief minister planted a sapling of Kalpvriksha while his deputy Sisodia planted an Amla near the lake side of the Secretariat. Other Cabinet ministers and Chief Secretary KK Sharma, too, planted saplings.

Kozhikode

More than 30,000 plants and saplings were planted by cadets and children at the Indian Naval Academy at nearby Ezhimala on the occasion of World Environment Day today. Vice Admiral P Ajit Kumar, Commandant, INA, inaugurated the tree plantation drive in which senior Naval Officers and their families actively took part, a release from INA said.

As part of the afforestation drive and ‘Go-Green’ endeavour, the naval station planted various types of fruit bearing, non-fruit bearing, medicinal, herbal and decorative plants, it said.

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