TRIUNITHURA: RAIN + 2I + 1P = RIVER. This simple equation was reached at with a detailed explanation at the Workshop on Environmental Protection and Food Adulteration. Nearly a hundred students participated in the workshop held at the Government Boys’ High school, Tripunithura, jointly organised by the PTA and the Energy Conservation Club, a unit of BPCL (Kochi Refinery).
M I Varghese (IFS) shared some of his experiences, from a nearly four-decade-long intimate relationship with Kerala forests. “When a huge drop of rain falls on a tall tree, it will split into fragments. Slowly it gets drained either through the trunk or through the leaves. The ‘I’ mentioned in the equation stands for this process, interception. The second ‘I’ stands for infiltration, and ‘P’ for percolation. In the third stage, the water is stored in the underground rock layer, which will erupt from the soft parts of the earth as streams, the initial phase of a river. Thus our forests are our invaluable reservoirs without which rain water will flow towards the seas, through the already dead rivers in Kerala,” said Varghese, pointing at the Kadambrayar.
The silent valley itself houses more than 1200 endemic species which we cannot see anywhere in the world. How can the politicians claim that they will replace the Athirappilly catchments where the controversial hydro electric power projects are planned? Varghese asks.
Earlier Dr S Seetharaman presented an interesting paper on solid waste treatment in which he asked the students to take a pledge that they will minimise paper waste in class. Protecting a plant is much more important than planting it, he said. “When we follow the pledge regarding the minimising of waste paper, we are indirectly preserving a tree.” He also urged the students to say no to low quality carry bags. A tree absorbs nearly one tonne of carbon dioxide in 100 years. He asked the students to visit forests at least once in a year to experience the beauty of nature.
In the afternoon session V N Madhusoodhanan conducted a demonstration session to explain the side-effects of food adulteration. “Herbal medicines are always marketed with a phrase - 100 percent chemical-free. How can it be kept for months or years without chemicals and other toxic substances?” he asks.
The one day seminar was inaugurated by K Babu MLA and presided over by R Venugopalan, municipal chairman.
John Minu Mathew, general manager, BPCL, delivered the keynote address. K S Sobhana, principal of the school, welcomed the gathering and K K Abdul Razak proposed the vote of thanks.