SHILLONG/TURA: With COVID-19 restrictions in place, the North Eastern Hill University, Tura Don Bosco College and Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides celebrated the World Environment Day 2021 by holding a webinar and conferring about environmental issues and ways to tackle them.
NEHU
The Department of Geology, NEHU, in collaboration with Shillong Chapter, Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata, celebrated the day by conducting a webinar on ‘UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’.
According to a statement, the webinar, which was attended by over 225 people, commenced by taking pledge to restore the planet and its ecosystem.
NEHU Vice-Chancellor, SK Srivastava, during the programme, paid homage to Indian environmentalist and Chipko movement leader, Sunderlal Bahuguna.
He stressed on the importance of long-term economic sustainability instead of short-term quick growth by sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
Chairman & Co-Founder of Theta Enerlytics Pvt. Ltd, Karan Dhaul, who attended the webinar as the speaker, gave insights on the modern tools and techniques, used in various fields of sciences, that are directly relevant to the objective of ecosystem restoration.
He emphasised that aligning with the government schemes, modern technology such as drones equipped with lidar, multispectral and hyperspectral sensors can prove to be an excellent tool for resolving various issues at local and regional level.
Prof. Devesh Walia from Department of Geology, NEHU, on the other hand, delivered a talk on ecosystem services management and restoration. He also discussed the ecological niche and benefits, which people obtain from their ecosystem.
Tura Don Bosco College
Students and teachers of Tura Don Bosco College celebrated World Environment Day by organising a webinar on the theme ‘Ecosystem Restoration through Stakeholders’.
Tura MP, Agatha Sangma, who was the speaker during the webinar, spoke extensively on the need to conserve the environment. She urged the participants to take timely steps to conserve mother earth.
Chairman of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Meghalaya, TTC Marak, in his address, spoke about the measures undertaken by the government to safeguard the environment.
Accentuating the need to take care of the environment, he said previous governments in Meghalaya had endeavoured towards building a self-reliant and a balance ecosystem in Meghalaya.
Others who spoke during the webinar include Prof OP Singh from NEHU, Nokma of Romba A’dinggre Abal Manda Sangma, farmer Simpo D Sangma, et al.
Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides
The Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides celebrated the day by holding a webinar on the theme ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ on Saturday.
On the occasion, several resource persons spoke on climate change as well as COVID-19 pandemic.
A video presentation on Plastic Tide Turners, a global youth movement to combat plastic pollution around the world, online slogan and poster competition were also part of the programme.
