VISAKHAPATNAM: The speakers at the Earth Day celebrations organised by various private establishments and government institutions in the city Wednesday exhorted the people to save earth, for it is a collective responsibility.
GITAM: At a programme organised by the Environmental Science department of GITAM Institute of Science, the faculty and students took an oath to protect the environment by adopting green and eco-friendly technologies. University Grants Commission (affairs) director Ch Ramakrishna said that 70 per cent of world population would live in cities by 2050 and the lifestyle and cultures of urban people need to change towards living in harmony with the nature.
Scientists predicted that the ongoing human activities would contribute more to global warming and the average global temperature would increase by 1.4-1.6 degrees Celsius in the 21st century. According to a recent report, the climate change could push food prices up by 50-60 per cent by 2030. Over 600,000 deaths occur worldwide every year due to climate change and 95 per cent of deaths take place in developing countries, he informed. GITAM Institute of Science principal N Lakshmanadas presided over the function. Environmental science department head Maruthi and faculty members were present.
AU: As part of the Earth Day, Andhra University and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) jointly conducted a meeting at AU College of Engineering wherein college principal ChV Ramachandra Murthy called upon the students to share the responsibility for saving the earth. He expressed deep concern over the increasing pollution levels and damage to the green cover.
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute former professor CV Chalapati Rao urged the people and the government to give top priority to conserving greenery in the state by taking up eco-friendly construction works.
APPCB joint chief environmental engineer B Madhusudan Rao explained that industries, automobiles, usage of pesticides were causing pollution.At an another programme organised at AU Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies Centre by the geo physics department of AU in association with Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences, AU Science College principal CV Raman lamented that no priority was being given to sanitation in the country. The huge quantity of waste being released into the blue waters without treatment was spreading pollution at fast pace, he pointed out.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services scientist V Vijaya Kumar delivered a lecture on Tsunami-Alarming System. Geo physics department head P Rama Rao, professors KVSR Prasad, E Udaya Bhaskar Reddy, Manjulatha and Radhuram spoke.
IEI: The Institution of Engineers India (IEI) and Catania Engineering College jointly conducted a technical seminar. Delivering the keynote address, Andhra University professor K Nageswara Rao recalled that US Senator Gaylord Nelson, in 1970, dedicated April 22 every year for Earth Day in honour of Mother Earth. Ecological imbalances were causing earthquakes, tsunami, drought and floods across the world. Similarly, there had been an alarming rise in carbon dioxide levels over the past 100 years (about 400 ppm at present). Against this backdrop, massive plantation drives should be taken up everywhere and students should take the lead, he felt. IEI former chairman I Satyanarayana spoke.
Vizianagaram: The Vizianagaram municipality and APPCB organised an awareness rally in the town to mark the Earth Day. Municipal chairman P Ramakrishna flagged off the rally and exhorted every individual to save the earth. APPCB environmental engineer Lakshmipathi Kumar, municipal environmental engineer Kamala Kumari and several students participated in the rally.