Planting of saplings, screening of films on climate change, green walk, art exhibition and painting and slogan writing competitions marked World Environment Day celebrations here on Saturday.
As part of environment protection, the Army officials have realigned a few areas inside the Palm Grove Environment Park and Training Area on Island Grounds, resulting in the formation of small ponds, said Lt. Gen. B.K. Chengappa, General Officer Commanding, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Normally, during rain, the grounds get waterlogged. With the creation of new ponds, water stagnation could be avoided.
In the last four years, nearly 2,000 saplings were planted and provided adequate protection. Use of plastic has been banned on the grounds as well residential quarters of defence personnel. In the next few years the grounds would become a lush green lung as officials planned to plant more saplings, said Lt. Gen. Chengappa.
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He distributed prizes to winners of painting and slogan writing competitions. K.S. Neelakantan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) planted a sapling on the grounds.
The Confederation of Indian Industry, Chennai Zone, organised a Green Walk. It was flagged off by City Police Commissioner T. Rajendran. The walk began from Gandhi Statue on Kamarajar Salai and culminated on Simpson Grounds. Anand Sundaresan, vice-chairman, CII Chennai zone, and Deepa Sathiaram, chairperson, Yi Chennai chapter, participated.
Five films on ‘climate change and environment' made under the UK Environment Film Fellowships 2010 were screened at the British Council in association with National Geographic Channel Asia. After the screening a discussion with Vijay Bedi, one of the filmmakers, was held. The C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre organised a walkathon. It started from Gandhi Statue and ended at Anna Memorial on Kamarajar Salai. Students from Corporation schools and private schools, who were part of the green initiative of the centre, participated.
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The need for recycling waste water at home was explained by S. Indra Kumar, president, Home-Exnora, at a function organised by the Centre for Environmental Studies, Department of Civil Engineering, Anna University. S. Shanmugavel, Registrar and P. Devadas Manoharan, Professor and Estate Officer, participated.
The Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, bagged the ‘Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar' for 2008 under organisation category with a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh. It is the highest award in the country bestowed on individuals and organisations working for environmental protection and generating awareness.
A two-day exhibition showcasing different practices, including sewage treatment, solid waste management and use of renewables, that help in conserving biodiversity, opened at Adyar Poonga on Saturday. Students, who participated in a summer camp at the Poonga, were presented with certificates by Phanindra Reddy, member secretary, Adyar Poonga Trust.