Rodrigues releases environment report on Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Oct 18 (UNI) The Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gen (Retd) SF Rodrigues today released the environment report on Chandigarh 'State of Environment Chandigarh-2008' at Punjab Raj Bhavan here.

According to the report, the air quality of the 'city beautiful' is being adversely affected by increasing vehicles in the city.

Increasing noise level, frequent change in land use pattern due to urbanisation, soil erosion, water pollution are also contributing to threaten the environment of the city.

The report also highlights the multifarious steps being taken by the UT Administration for protecting the city's environment, which mainly includes the management of solid waste, soil conservation efforts, controlling airport pollution by introducing innovative programmes and also the participation of NGOs, members of teaching community, students and individuals to promote sustainable development.

Releasing the report, General Rodrigues emphasised the need for ensuring the implementation of measures detailed in the document.

Stressing the need for partnership with the people to check environmental de-gradation and making environment protection a people's movement, General Rodrigues called for adopting a people-centered conservation approach with the participation of all stakeholders, in safeguarding forests and other natural resources to ensure sustainable and equitable development.

''There is a need for boosting our efforts by incorporating environmental perspectives in each and every programme to highlight the significance of ecology in human life and sensitising the general public especially children on environment issues,'' he said.

''The setting of 120 eco-clubs in different schools of Union territory is a good concept but needs to institutionalised by holding competitions and giving trophies to the best institutions.

It will generate competitive spirit among students,'' he said.

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