Mass sapling planting campaign, distribution of awareness pamphlets, and release of poster underlining the importance of protecting the environment marked the observance of World Environment Day by the Salem Railway Division at the railway colonies in the city on Sunday.
Hari Shankar Verma, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem, led the campaign, when he explained the importance of creating awareness on the causes for global warming and the necessity for saving energy among the railway employees and their family members at the railway colonies.
The DRM, along with Ravi Shekhar Sinha, Additional DRM, distributed pamphlets carrying awareness slogans on doing away with incandescent bulbs, using of CFL/LED lamps for lower consumption of energy, increasing forest cover, protecting the trees, keeping the streets and drainage garbage-free, maintain the colony premises neat and tidy etc.
Some of the residents of the railway colonies complained to the DRM about the smoke and foul smell emanating from the nearby cremation ground that is hazardous to health. Mr. Verma issued orders for raising the height of the compound wall and to plant tall plantations such as bamboo trees, to reduce the risk.
He also assured them that a letter will be addressed to the Salem Corporation officials, requesting it to consider the possibilities of shifting the cremation ground away from the residential area.
He inaugurated the sapling planting campaign in the East Railway Colony and urged the residents to take steps for the proper maintenance of the saplings till they grow into trees.
Later, Mr. Verma told presspersons that that Indian Railways is taking all steps to reduce its carbon footing, improve the railway premises including stations by keeping them clean, put an end to use of plastics on railway premises by replacing them with disposable eco-friendly bio-degradable materials etc.
Salem Steel Plant
Hoisting the environment flag and administering oath marked the observance of World Environment Day at Salem Steel Plant in the city on Sunday. B.K. Thakur, General Manager (Personnel and Administration), hoisted the Environment Flag at the Works Office premises of Salem Steel Plant. The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “Go wild for life”.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Thakur said that the countrymen should take positive action to preserve the environment.
A pledge to sustain the environment was also administered on the occasion by A. K. Jaiswal, General Manager (Maintenance). Senior officers and employees were present.
Around 115 saplings including Vella Marudhu (Terminalia Arjuna), Gamhar (Gmelina Arborea – Beach Wood) and Venkai (Pterocarpus Marsupium), all having medicinal properties, were planted by the senior officers and employees of the unit, school children and township residents in around two acres in Mohan Nagar township of Salem Steel Plant.
