In an effort to create awareness among school students and general public on environmental pollution, by celebrating a smoke-free Bhogi, the students of Velammal Matric H.S. School, Viraganoor, in Madurai organised a human chain recently. The human chain covered a distance of three km from the District Collectorate to Tamukkam Grounds.
Thousand three hundred students participated in the human chain. Many carried placards highlighting the dangers of air pollution. The students also distributed pamphlets that highlighted the disadvantages of burning anything, not just tyres and plastics. They informed that burning tyres, rubber tubes and plastic and poly vinyl chloride wastes led to emission of toxic fumes.
They also stressed on using the internet for correspondence, instead of wasting paper to write letters. The use of paper bags should be encouraged, and the use of polythene bags avoided. Solar energy should be made use of as much as possible.
Madurai District Collector, C. Kamaraj, participated in the human chain. He said villagers are more conscious in protecting the environment than people from towns and cities. Villagers do not indulge in burning plastic wastes and tyres; only those from urban areas need to be informed about health hazards.
B. Chandrasekaran, principal, Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, said that the effort was to send across a strong message to protect the environment and make it sustainable for the future generations.
