Talks, sapling planting programmes, rallies, film screenings were held in Hubli-Dharwad to mark World Environment Day on Wednesday.
Speaking after inaugurating a programme to mark World Environment Day at the lake garden at Jayanagar in Dharwad on Wednesday, ornithologist G.R. Timmapur said that many tanks in the city, which were dying, had been developed into lake gardens under the government scheme to save lakes. Now, it was up to the people to do their bit for the maintenance of these lake gardens
Mr. Timmapur said maintenance of lung spaces was not merely the government or municipal authorities’ responsibility. He said that the
once the facilities were dedicated to the people, it was their responsibility to safeguard them. He said that people had to make better use of the facilities and see that they were not misused or damaged by anyone. Members of voluntary organisations as well as the public cleaned the area. A few saplings were also planted on the occasion.
Councillor Shivu Hiremath said he would see that the use of plastic was banned inside the lake garden and a night watchman was appointed.
Conveying a message
Students of JSS English-medium School organised a programme, ‘Go green and save the earth’. The children, who were clad in special costumes that conveyed the need to protect nature, caught the attention of the public when they took out a procession. Principal of the school Sadhana S. and chief guest Ratna Irsang joined the students in planting saplings on the campus. Saplings were planted on the Basel Mission Practising School campus and also distributed to parents. The children took an oath that they would not use tobacco products.
In Hubli
Scores of people from different walks of life, along with students, took out a bicycle rally from Durgad Bail in Hubli. With placards tied to the handles of the bicycles and wearing green caps, the cyclists rode through the main roads of the city to educate people on the significance of the day.
Raised slogans
Several students gathered at the Kittur Chennamma Circle holding banners and placards with messages about the environment. The students raised slogans and staged a demonstration.
In some extension areas, residents’ associations observed World Environment Day by cleaning up their area. At Rotary English Medium Primary School in Deshpande Nagar, joint secretary of the school Kishore Gami advised the students to plant saplings near their houses and nurture them. Students planted saplings on the school premises and sang a song. President of Hubli Taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat K.S. Kaujalagi advised students not to waste food as there were millions of children across the world who were going hungry. Taluk president of Bharat Jnana Vijnan Samiti Lingaraj Ramapur said that there was a need for stronger laws that ensured conservation and protection of biodiversity hubs.
As part of World Environment Day, a film was screened and a drawing competition was held. At Ambika Nagar near Unakal, students of Chetan Business School, in association with the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, planted saplings on either side of the 100-ft road in the presence of elders of Unakal village, HDMC councillor Rajanna Koravi and HDMC Assistant Commissioner D.D. Madar.
Inaugurating the programme, Mr. Koravi told the students that being concerned about the environment was the first step towards becoming responsible citizens. Placement officer of the B-shool Santhoshkumar Javali announced that the institution would take steps to provide tree-guards and also nurture saplings.
