June 6th 2024.
Bhubaneswar: The residents of the Capital city came together to commemorate the World Environment Day on Wednesday, with various organizations hosting events to raise awareness on the importance of preserving our planet. This year's theme, 'Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience' and slogan, 'Our land, our future. We are Generation Restoration.' were chosen to highlight the crucial role that land plays in sustaining life on Earth. The Orissa Environmental Society (OES) organized a special event at their conference hall, with the esteemed OES president Sundara Narayana Patro leading the proceedings.
The event was graced by the presence of several notable figures, including Debasis Dash, the director of the Institute of Life Sciences, who served as the chief guest, and Sarat Chandra Sahu, the director of Centre for Environment and Climate at SOA University, who was the chief speaker. In his speech, Dash emphasized the vital role that land plays in providing food and resources for both humans and other living organisms, and stressed the need for restoration and prevention of land degradation.
Sahu, in his address, shed light on the pressing issue of land degradation and desertification, and how they have been exacerbated by frequent droughts caused by climate change. Patro also took the opportunity to highlight the harmful effects of pollution and land degradation on human health and the environment. The event also saw the felicitation of several individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields.
Ramesh Chandra Tripathy, a renowned expert in water resources management, was honored with the prestigious 'Water Man of Odisha Award', while Dr. Pravat Kumar Dash, a distinguished cardiologist and director of cardiology at PGIMER Capital Hospital, was awarded the 'Lifetime Contribution to Health Services Award'. Additionally, Baman Chandra Acharya, a former professor of Botany, was recognized as the 'Environmentalist of the Year', and Sukant Patnaik was presented with the 'Green Crusader Award' by the chief guest.
In a separate event at the Bakul Library, the Young Climate Leaders Action Project (YCLAP) was launched. This initiative, started in 2021 by Bakul Foundation and the US Consulate General, Hyderabad, aims to engage and empower young people to take action towards addressing climate change. Fifteen individuals from the state were selected for this project based on their demonstrated commitment and passion for the environment. Three of them, namely Deepsha Dhal, Soumya Ranjan Biswal, and Jayprakash Nayak, were also chosen to be a part of the International Climate Action Champions Network created by ORF and the US Embassy, along with 20 other Climate Champions from India.
Meanwhile, the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology also joined in the World Environment Day celebrations as part of their JIGYASA program. The campus was abuzz with a tree plantation drive, reflecting the institute's commitment to promoting a greener and healthier environment. It was heartening to see the community coming together to celebrate and take action towards a more sustainable future. Let us all strive to be responsible stewards of our land, for the sake of our present and future generations.
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