Sentiment behind WED must pervade every moment of day: Minister

New Delhi : Giving a clarion call to the people of the country and the youth in particular, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan on June 4 , 2017,  said that the real sentiment behind World Environment Day (WED) should not be restricted to a single day, but must pervade every moment of the day, till the World Environment Day next year.

Addressing a function on the eve of World Environment Day here, the Minister emphasised the need to create positive energy and awakening among the people of the country. Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged people to use public transport more, cycle, reduce the use of air-conditioners and work towards realising the Prime Minister’s vision of Swacchh Bharat and cleanliness. He also appealed to the people to use water judiciously and in appropriate amount. He directed that Ministry officials must start water conservation in the right earnest in the Environment Ministry itself. The Minister added that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change should not work only as a regulator, but more like a facilitator in a true sense.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan highlighted that youth programmes such as ‘Jigyasa’, which is to be launched soon, in which Kendriya Vidyalaya students are taken to CSIR laboratories, should be replicated in the field of environment also. The Minister also said that Department of Science & Technology and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change must work together in the field of waste management – be it solid waste, plastic waste, or e-waste and in creating waste to wealth and waste to energy, according to a PIB release.

The Environment Minister appealed to NGOs, professionals, teachers and students to make environmental protection, nature and biodiversity conservation a strong social movement. Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that children and environmental volunteers must be awarded in a much bigger way next year.

The Young Environmentalist Award was given away on the occasion. May Barani Aung, a Class X student from Mamta Modern Senior Secondary School, Vikaspuri, New Delhi, was awarded the first prize for performance in National Poster Making Competition.