Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MSP)

Mangalore, Jun 6: The inaugural function of the World Environment Day programme was organized at Pilikula by Pilikula Nisargadhama Science Centre on Thursday, June 5.

Lion district governor K Mohan Kamath inaugurated this three-day programme.

Dr S K Susrala, director in the department of environment and forestry in the union government, delivering the keynote address, opined that the situation caused by excessive emission of carbon can be effectively tackled by bringing down the carbon content in the environment, only if the world leaders show strong political will.

She explained that there is a system in vogue under which developing countries that take effective steps to bring down carbon emission are given carbon credits by the developed countries. India, which has been showing immense interest in power conservation and producing power by using solar and wind powers, is the second country to benefit through the carbon credits, she explained.

She exhorted teachers from different eco-clubs from the schools across the district to create environment awareness among the students at a very young age. Earlier in the day, Karnataka pollution control board environment officer B N Ramesh Kumar, who introduced the theme of this year's environment day, emphasized the need to bring down carbon emission towards reducing global warming. Global warming can seriously interfere with climatic patterns, rains, flooding etc, which will be detrimental to the human race in the long running, he cautioned.

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao who presided, asked Pilikula Nisargadhama and Mangalore City Corporation to work towards reducing carbon emissions and earn carbon credits. Proper solid waste management can go a long way towards achieving this goal, he opined.

BASF senior general manaager P P Shetty and science centre director Dr K V Rao were among the dignitaries present.

Big FM Observes Environment Day

Elsewhere in the city, Big FM observed environment day in association with Rotary Club Baikampady, Canara College eco club and Mangalore City Corporation, and conducted a clean up drive at Panambur beach with the aim of making the beach a plastic-free zone.

As the radio station had given wide publicitty to the programme and educated the listeners with tips, people came together in large numbers to participate in this programme.

Bicycle Rally at Manipal University

In Udupi district, Manipal University conducted a bicycle rally for the Manipal Institute of Technology students. University Pro-chancellor H S Ballal in his introductory speech, asked the youth to nurture civic sense, endeavour to employ environment friendly measures and save the earth from untold miseries.

Veteran journalist and ex-chairman of Prasar Bharti M V Kamath who participated in the programme, regretted that the humans have been delivering lethal blows on the nature's ways and making the world more and more uninhabitable. He suggested to the people to adopt environment friendly measures to save the next generations from the ill affects of the deeds of the present generation.

Manipal University pro vice-chancellor Dr S S Pabla and registrar G K Prabhu and others were present.