L-R: M Senthil Kumar, IFS, APCCF (E&CC); Vedpal Singh, IFS, PCCF & HoFF; CL John, Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change and Village Guards; and Sidramappa M Chalkapure, IFS, CCF (P&D) seen during the release of the State Biodiversity Board Logo on the occassion of World Environment Day at Kohima Peace Memorial and Eco Park.
Morung Express News
Kohima | June 5
Impressing upon that environment means everything that surrounds us including the earth, air, water, water vapor, Vedpal Singh, IFS PCCF & HoFF on Friday underscored that, “when we talk of environmental protection, we are basically talking of protection of the entire envelope that we live in.”
Delivering the opening remarks during the observance of World Environment Day at Kohima Peace Memorial and Eco Park on June 5, he underlined that environment cannot be treated as something else than “from our own existence.”
Highlighting that “our own existence, our own living, our own happiness, our own quality of life is dependent on environment”, he however lamented that, “it is unfortunate to see that the worst damage to the environment that has been done has also been done by humans only.”
Further citing that scientists have discovered nanoplastics in Antarctica and in the blood of newborn babies, he said that, “So isn't that alarming enough for us to start mending our ways and to kind of say that enough is enough and to take some kind of resolve that we will work for protection of our environment.”
Towards this end, he pinned his hope on the future generation and said, “You are smarter than us, you are more aware than us, you are more capable in terms of protecting the environment than us. If you start acting today, maybe immediately it won't matter much, the impacts may not be visible but eventually at one point of time probably we will be able to turn the tides.”
He said that the true celebration of World Environment Day would mean resolving to protect the environment by using less plastic, carrying cloth bag for marketing, switching off extra bulbs to save fuel or through whatever little contribution possible.
Having crossed many red lines in this context, he also stated that, “there is a limit to which the sustainability or the resilience of the ecosystem will take it. But from one point of time it becomes kind of non-reversible.”
“So before we hit that kind of limit, let's mend our ways, let's make our living more sustainable, let's try to protect our environment and try to contribute to the cause in whatever little manner we can”, he added.
Addressing the World Environment Day celebration, CL John, Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change and Village Guards pointed at jungle burning/forest fire, hunting and plastic use as some of the biggest threats to the environment in the context of Nagaland.
Asserting the need for a balanced environment, he remarked that, “anything else that we do is meaningless if our environment is lost.” He also cited the rising temperatures in Kohima, Dimapur and even across villages while calling for action towards this end.
He urged for community participation in saving the environment and further underscored that a healthy environment is key to the wellbeing of human beings.
Organised by the Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, the event was held under the theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.” Highlights of the programme included welcome address by M Senthil Kumar, IFS, APCCF (E&CC), special number by Fernwood School, Felicitation of Essay Competition Winners including Rahrane Bethel Zhoh of Class 9, Mezhür Higher Secondary School for securing the first position; Livana K Zhimomi of Class 10, Fernwood School for securing second place; and Keduvinu Kharutso of Class 10, Little Flower Higher Secondary School for the third place. During the occassion, the State Biodiversity Board Logo was also released while Sidramappa M Chalkapure, IFS, CCF (P&D) proposed the vote of thanks, followed by Ceremonial planting.
