Chandigarh, June 5, 2018: Today, Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration, Yuvsatta organized World Environment Day Celebrations at Elante Mall, Chandigarh. TC Nautiyal, Conservator of Forests cum Member Secretary, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Prominent others who participated includes Anil Malhotra, Executive Director, Elante Mall, Vivek Pandey from CPCC, Pramod Sharma, Coordinator, Yuvsatta, environmentalist Kulbhushan Kanwar, Sr. Artist, Ravinder Sharma, Journalist Shayda Bano, Casting Director, Jyotika Badyal and Indonesian Gandhi Agus Indra Udayana.

The main attraction of the day was Eco Club Awards awarded for best environmental awareness activities carried out by local Schools involving young children’s. The 1^st prize of Best Eco Club this year was bagged by St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Sector 44-D, Chandigarh which was received by Principal of the School Monica Chawla along with her students and Eco Club incharge teachers. First prize carried a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 plus a trophy and certificate. Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 33-D won the second prize and third prize was bagged by Gurukul Global School, Manimajra, Chandigarh. Two consolations Eco Club awards were also there and same went to Eco Clubs of Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 37B and Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 20B, Chandigarh.

Addressing the gathering Chief Guest Sh.T.C. Nautiyal, IFS gave a new slogan of ‘Accept Jholas, Neglect Polythene/Plastic Handbags’, emphasizing on promotion of non-use of plastic/ polythene in daily needs. He also distributed Herbal Plants to students to promote green Chandigarh and also cloth made ‘jholas’ to the people present there to promote non-use of polythene/plastic bags.

TC Nautiyal further shared that the theme of the today’s World Environment Day is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ which is a call for action to come together to combat one of the greatest environmental challenges of our times. The theme invites us all to consider how we can make changes to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife and human health. It brings us to making simple yet informed choices such as carrying reusable shopping bags, coffee mugs, water bottles, etc while going to a super-market.

Anil Malhotra of Elante Mall said that now the time has come to walk to talk. We should all practice eco-friendly ways of living, starting first from strictly saying ‘NO’ to polythene bags use.

On the occasion a Stall was erected where Film on Solar was showcased. Quiz sessions were also held on the matters relating to Environment, Forests & Renewable Energy. Inter-School Poster making/ Slogan Writing Contests also marked the day.

An Inter-School Short Play Contest was also organized on the occasion in nine School teams participated from St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Sector 44D, St. Stephen’s School, Sector 45, Chandigarh, Gurukul Global School, Manimajra , Alliance International Schoo, Banur, Govt. Girls Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 20B, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 37B, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 33D, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Khudda Ali Sher, Chandigarh and Kitabhar, Sector 26, Chandigarh.

In the end the winners of the Inter-School Short Plays were honuored by Agus Indra Udayana, the Indonesian Gandhi from Ashram Gandhi Puri, Bali. And the winners were first prize was bagged by St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, second prize went to team of St. Stephen’s School and students from Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 33D got the third prize.

The programme ended by vote of thanks & Pramod Sharma, Coordinator of Yuvsatta and free distribution of over 1000 cloth bags among public.