Various organisations across the city organised planting of saplings, took out rallies involving students and held other activities to bring out the risks the environment faced from various dangerous practices, including the indiscriminate use and reckless dumping of plastics on the occasion of the World Environment Day on Thursday.
The key message sent out by all these was the way all sections of society kept pushing the planet towards greater risks from global warming.
Rotary Club of Coimbatore Uptown, Nizhal Maiyam and Thulasi Pharmacy organised planting of saplings, which was inaugurated by Managing Trustee of Siruthuli Vanita Mohan at R.S. Puram. The 105 Battalion of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at Vellalore observed World Environment Day with a rally and planting of saplings.
Launching the planting of 2014 saplings (to mark the year 2014), the battalion said that led by its Commandant P.P. Pauly, it would also carry out a number of activities till June 11 to emphasise environment protection. The Vellalore Panchayat has also joined hands with the battalion in these activities. These included a garbage clearance drive and speech and essay contests for students at Podanur.
The mass cleaning drive would be done on June 11 at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and a primary health centre at Vellalore. The RAF said it had also developed a herbal garden on its campus. More than 200 herbal plants are planted in this garden to enhance awareness on the medicinal value of these plants. Nature Conservation Society carried out a campaign specifically aimed creating awareness on the dangers of global warming and the ill-effects of plastics.
President of the society N.I. Jalaludeen said teams of volunteers went to 13 schools across the city to educate the children on the risks from global warming. Short films on various environmental issues, including specific issues relating to the harmful practices in Coimbatore city, were screened.
“Children receive well what we say and convey it effectively to the elders at home. We also appealed to the schools to form environment clubs and plant as many saplings as possible, and not just stop with a mere observance of environment day,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu Forest Academy here undertook a sapling plantation campaign on Thursday to mark the World Environmental Day.
Saplings of Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Pungan, Nagalingam, Vengai were planted on this occasion by the newly-joined forester trainees in Academy along with the field and ministerial staff to improve biodiversity of the forest campus.
Manoj Kumar Sarcar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Working plan, Coimbatore, gave a demonstration on how to plant saplings and the requisite technical measures needed to make the plantation successful.
Aruna Basu Sarcar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Director, Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, and K.K. Kaushal, Chief Conservator of Forests and Additional Director Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, took part.
Special Correspondent from Udhagamandalam adds : The Nilgiris Collector P.Sankar led the district in observing World Environment Day on Thursday. He flagged off a rally near the Railway station here to drive home the significance of the occasion.It was organized by the Department of School Education along with the C.P.R.Environmental Education Centre. Later speaking to The Hindu , he opined that this small but important district which is ecologically sensitive can no longer take things for granted on the environment front.
Stating that its well being is important not only for the people of the district but also those in other parts of the state,he pointed out that the consequences of environmental degradation here will be felt over a wide area. Adverting to the population make-up of the Nilgiris, he said that people from many places have made the district their home.
On occasions like the World Environment Day they should introspect with a sense of belonging on their contribution to safeguarding the environment. A harmonious balance should be struck between development and conservation.
The administration can only don the role of a facilitator. Only through local initiative can this natural heritage be preserved and its scenic spots like the Ooty lake be protected. To a question, he said that children are being used in various campaigns in the hope that they will ensure that they inherit a healthy legacy. World Environment Day was also celebrated by various other organizations in different parts of the district.
While the Nilgiris Education and Research Foundation marked the occasion by organizing a tree planting campaign and recognizing environmentalists at Manjoor,the Nilgiris Marshlands Conservation Movement organized a post card campaign here to protect the wetlands.
The Family Planning Association of India conducted a signature campaign in Coonoor to check global warming.
