Srinagar: On the eve of ‘World Environment Day’ (WED) celebrated across the world annually on 05th of June, several events including plantation and cleanliness drives besides awareness programmes on preservation of environment were held across all the districts of Kashmir.This year the theme for WED was ‘Ecosystem Restoration’, and this day is one of the biggest events organised by the United Nations (UN) to generate awareness about the significance of nature. The day is celebrated to tell people that nature should be respected for its values.
At Srinagar: To mark the World Environment Day, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammed Aijaz Asad Saturday launched a plantation drive by planting saplings of Deodar tree here at Municipal Park, Jawahar Nagar.Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said that the objective of the plantation drive is to spread awareness on environmental obligations and measures required to be taken to restore the Ecosystem, especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic.He said we should restore our relationship with nature and called for community participation and support for local conservation efforts. He also appealed the citizens to benevolently pledge and commit themselves to protect and sustain the pristine environment of Kashmir.The Deputy Commissioner further said it is the duty of every citizen, with dedicated and farsighted plans and actions, to leave a better earth for the future generations.Pertinent to mention that Saturday’s plantation drive is a part of a mass plantation under which a target of 5 lakh plants have been set for plantation in Srinagar under the Srinagar Smart City project to extend green cover in Srinagar City.Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Khurshid Ahmad, Divisional Forest Officer Urban Forestry, Abid Nazir, and other officers besides NGO members were present on the occasion.At Anantnag: On eve of the World Environment Day 2021, the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Dr. Piyush Singla Saturday kickstarted a plantation drive at Khanabal here.The programme was organised by Social Forestry Division Anantnag and also witnessed a cleanliness drive besides certain awareness activities on ecosystem restoration. DFO Social Forestry Division Anantnag, Shamma Roohi and other concerned officers also graced the occasion.
At Bandipora: The district administration Bandipora on Saturday observed World Environment Day by organizing Online seminars, Essay Competitions, debates, painting competitions, cycling rallies and plantation drives with an aim to sensitize the people about the importance of keeping the environment clean.In view of the ongoing pandemic, the District administration in collaboration with Chief Education Officer Bandipora organised an online Essay and Painting competition in order to focus on the issues that are confronting the process of safe environment through virtual mode. The students were asked to write essay on the topic “Wullar Lake: Our Heritage and Pride” while painting competition was organised virtually on the theme, “Save Environment, Save Life”.The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora chaired the felicitation ceremony organised in the Mini-Secretariat lawns for the students who participated in the online competition. The DC was the chief guest on the occasion while Joint Director Planning Imityaz Ahmad, Deputy Chief Education Officer Bandipora GM Sheikh, Officers of Tourism department and other senior officers of the district were present there.While speaking on the occasion, the DC highlighted the importance of the day and urged the students to be the ambassadors of Bandipora by highlighting the importance of keeping the environment clean. He appreciated the students for taking part in the competition and expressing their ideas with regard to the issue. He said after reading the concepts of the students with regard to the environment, he is sure that the future lies in safe hands as the students have clear ideas about the importance of preserving the ecosystem.Dr. Owais said the district administration is working on several projects that are aimed to preserve the ecosystem of the district. He said that all the waste from across the Kashmir valley gets deposited in the Wular lake through various tributaries and rivers that run into the lake. He said a major project of de-slitting has been launched to increase the capacity of the lake and restore its lost glory.On the occasion, the DC also gave away the prizes to the winning students besides unveiling a painting at Mini-Secretariat to kick-start theme-based wall paintings across the district Later, the Deputy Commissioner along with Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Zahid and DFO Social Forestry launched a plantation drive by planting trees in the premises of newly constructed District Hospital Complex. He also flagged off a rally by a group of young cyclists who will ride on their cycles across the town with an aim to create awareness about the environmental issues. Dr Owais also inaugurated an awareness campaign by flagging off a vehicle of Municipal Council Bandipora that has been fitted with a Public Address System that shall also create awareness regarding the issue among the public.
At Kupwara: The District Legal Services Authority Kupwara organised various programmes across the district to celebrate world environmental day. Apart from door to door campaign through PLVs for spreading awareness of various pollutions, air, water, soil, the PLVs stressed the importance of afforestation and reforestation. Painting, Essay competitions were organised in various schools across the district Kupwara on the topic with collaboration of the cultural wing of the education department in which 877 students participated and highlighted the environmental issues in colours.The day of activities was concluded with a webinar on environmental day in which Sub-Judge/ Secretary District Legal Services Authority Kupwara, Muzamil Ahmad Wani introduced the topic to audience and stated that the habitat of humanity is under threat from Human activity and that is pushing nature against humankind. Later, resource persons advocate Wasim Nazir Khan and Javid Ahmad Khan (Expert Teacher EVS) enlightened the audience with legal and social issues of the environment. The webinar was attended by Tasleem Arif Principal District and Sessions Judge Kupwara as chief guest.Participants were made sensitive to solid waste management and it was resolved that DLSA shall monitor solid and medical waste of District Kupwara and coordinate and enforce legal provisions with such cooperation with district administration.
