Planting of saplings, seminars and green rallies marked World Environment Day programmes held in the city on Tuesday.
Bhoomika, Kochi Corporation's initiative to recycle plastic with the help of school students, was launched here on Tuesday by K. Babu, Minister for Excise.
He collected two bags full of plastic waste from students at the inaugural function. “Space must be left around houses even at the construction stage to plant trees. The observance of World Environment Day must not be limited to just one day. We must be able to sustain the initiatives launched on the day so that nature and the environment are preserved. Steps must also be taken so that a new cleanliness culture develops in the country,” he said.
The Boomika project is part of the Suchitwa Varsham 2011-12 programme. Along with the campaign ‘My City My Pride,' it aims to rope in students to make Kochi a cleaner and greener place. In Bhoomika, students collect plastic from their homes and drop them in waste bins placed at schools. This will be taken away by Kochi Corporation workers, and later recycled.
Speakers at the function called for installing bio-gas plants in schools. In his presidential address, Mayor Tony Chammany said that environmental protection must not end with ritualistic functions. It has to become a way of life.
District Panchayat President Eldhose Kunnapilly released a CD on the role of children in environmental protection. District Collector P.I. Sheik Pareeth spoke on the green economy and how nature must be handed over to the next generation in its pristine form.
Green cadets' rally
Green cadets participated in a rally that began from the Aluva palace to the municipal town hall in the region in the morning. They also planted saplings at the Advaitha Ashram in Aluva. Anwar Sadath, MLA, inaugurated a public meeting held on the occasion.
M.K. Sanoo, noted critic, presented the Bhoomimitra award instituted by the Association for Environment Protection, Aluva. Sree Sarada Girls' Higher Secondary School at Thrissur won the award for its valuable contributions in the field of environment protection. The award consisted of a purse of Rs. 10,001, citation and plaque. Papers on various environmental issues were presented in the afternoon session.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala, organised ‘plant a tree – spread the green' campaign in association with Infopark and the Kerala State Horticultural Department on the Infopark campus at Kakkanad. Excise Minister K. Babu planted a sapling.
Hibi Eden, MLA, inaugurated the programme organised by Swadeshi Science Movement and Mangalavanam advisory samithi held at Mangalavanam here. Classes on environmental protection were also held on the occasion.
Mr. Eden also inaugurated the day programmes organised by Amrita Vidyalayam. V.N. Sivasankara Pillai, former Head of the School of Environmental Studies, spoke on green economy at a programme organised by Ernakulam Public Library and Kerala Sastrasahitya Parishat.
K. Jayachandran, Deputy Chief Engineer, FACT Udyogmandal division, inaugurated the programme organised by Shakti, the women's wing of Vijnana Bharati. Uni-Y, YMCA Ernakulam and Indian Oil Corporation organised an awareness programme on environmental issues and global warming. Lions Club International District 324 E4 organised a seminar here. Painting and essay competitions were also held as part of the programme.
Thirty Bishops representing the Catholic Church in Kerala inaugurated an environmental protection programme named ‘To Green Pastures'.
The opening message was delivered by Cardinal George Alencherry, who reminded the youth present on the occasion that they had a great responsibility to protect nature and environment. The Bishops also handed over saplings to the youth group, said a press release here.
