The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : A day for green concerns

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Friday, Jun 06, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

A day for green concerns

Special Correspondent

World Environment Day observed with a variety of programmes

Southern Air Command holds afforestation drive
Awareness programme held for students

Thiruvananthapuram: A mass run, planting of saplings, quiz and programmes on environmental protection marked World Environment Day in the city on Thursday.

The Southern Air Command observed the day with an afforestation drive at its headquarters, Aakulam. Air Officer Commanding in Chief Air Marshal S.C. Mukul inaugurated the drive by planting a sapling on the campus.

Family members of IAF personnel planted 1,500 saplings on the premises of the headquarters and the Kendriya Vidyalaya campus. Seema Mukul, president, Air Force Wives Welfare Association, planted saplings at the thrift shop at Vayuvihar.

The saplings were provided by the Forest Department.

The afforestation programme was followed by a slide show on environmental protection and a quiz for schoolchildren organised by the Kerala chapter of the World Wildlife Fund- India.

The Southern Kerala Hoteliers Federation organised a mass run from the Kowdiar junction to Palayam to highlight the slogan ‘Kick the habit - the carbon habit’. Principal of the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology Grace Gideon, corporate director of Uday Samudra Hotel Raja Gopal Iyer and sales manager of Kuwait Airways Ravi Sankar flagged-off the run.

Hundreds of jawans from the Indian Air Force and the CRPF, children representing the Trivandrum Tennis Club and employees of various hotels and commercial establishments participated in the run.

At the Palayam square, the participants took an oath to protect Mother Earth and the environment.

Several other programmes organised in the city in connection with the day were cancelled or postponed due to the hartal on Thursday.

Environment Week

The district-level inauguration of the Environment Week celebrations organised by the Manaveeya Vichara Kendram was carried out by Pannian Ravindran, MP, in front of the Secretariat.

Mr.Ravindran said development with scant regard for the environment would lead to a crisis.

“Any development has to achieve human progress in the end. Deforestation for development spells danger for the mankind.”

He said that protection of soil and water resources was imperative for survival.

Head of the Gandhian Study Centre, under the University of Kerala, J.M. Rahim presided. Manaviya Vichara Kendram director F.M. Lazar delivered the keynote address.

Volunteers took out a march to highlight the message of environment protection. A poster exhibition was also organised.

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