This year's World Environment Day assumed greater significance for the capital city which is floundering under garbage crisis. It hosted various programmes, under the theme ‘Green Economy, does it include you?' to mark the day on Tuesday.
Addressing the garbage issue directly, the Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust tied up with a private company Green Transit Renewable Energies to launch a ten-tonne capacity pyrolysis plant. An offer letter accepting produce from the plastic shredding unit in Palayam, which functions under the Corporation, was handed over by G. Murali Krishnan of Green Transit Renewable Energies to Mayor K. Chandrika.
The Southern Railways initiated a tree plantation drive along with the Forest Department, NCC and NSS. Minister for Forests K.B. Ganesh Kumar inaugurated the project at the Kochuveli terminus.
The Department of Political Science of Kerala University hosted a seminar on biodiversity and green economy. Noted ecologist S. Faizi spoke on “Global Environmental Treaties: How effective are they?”
Uday Samudra Hotel formed a group of volunteers who distributed seeds and saplings in front of the Secretariat. They gave away 500 seeds and 300 saplings.
The pharmacognosy department of Government Ayurveda College, Poojappura, coordinated with the State Medicinal Plants Board to plant 27 varieties of medicinal plants. The garden was kept open for the public on Tuesday.
Keltron and Friends of Trees together carried out a tree-planting session on the Keltron campus. A Tree Registry booklet was prepared including the scientific terms and Malayalam names of the 170 trees on the campus.
The celebrations by the Agri Friends Krishi Samskarika Vedi, a non-governmental organisation, began with ‘Green Journey,' a rally of schoolchildren from Martyr's Column to the Museum compound, in which over 300 students from over 50 schools took part. The event was inaugurated by Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan.
Awards were given to individuals and groups who had contributed towards Agri Friends' objectives. Krishna Kurup, a 106-year-old farmer from Alappuzha, was selected for the Krishipatom Gurushreshta Award for his contribution to agriculture.
A cycle rally was flagged off by Youth Congress Parliament Committee president C.S. Lenin. Around 100 cyclists participated in the rally that started at Kowdiar and ended at Gandhi Park.
