The India Post, CHANDIGARH–July 30 : As a part of the tree Plantation campaign, a group of teachers and students under the dynamic leadership and able guidance of the Vice Chancellor, R.C.Sobti have planted over three thousand Neem trees as well as eight gardens namely Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, Trifla, and Mango all over the campus both in sector 14 and sector 25.
Along with this campaign of carrying out large-scale plantation which will go a long way in maintaining the ecological balance of the city, the members of the newly formed Panjab University Ecological Society have also taken pains over the last few weeks in not only cleaning the campus of all types of garbage including plastics but have also succeeded in raising ‘the green consciousness’ of the residents who have now requested to keep the campus plastic free and smoke free.
On the occasion of the conclusion of this three week programme, the Mayor of Chandigarh, Shri Pradeep Chabbra attended the ceremony for the final plantation of a Rose and Bougainvillea garden in Sector 25 which was attended by the Vice Chancellor, Prof R C Sobti, Ms Anu Chatrath, and other teaching and non-teaching members of the University. The event along with the three week campaign, according to prof. Sobti, ‘is a wake up call to the citizens of Chandigarh to come forward to do all that is possible for maintaining the ecological balance around us. We owe it to ourselves and the future generations which will not forgive us if timely action is not taken to prevent global warming and the depletion of natural resources. We at the Panjab University feel that we have the ability to confront this crisis and it is in view of this urgency that with concerted efforts over the last three
weeks we have taken bold and decisive steps.’
Professor Shelley Walia, speaking on behalf of the Ecolofical Society said, ‘The occasion at the Panjab University is historic as nowhere else have academics taken on themselves to generate a culture of concern for the environment so seriously and with the resolution to adopt values so vital to such an initiative aimed at saving the Earth. We all deeply feel that we have a purpose and will to act. The initiative taken by Prof R C Sobti and his team will go a long way in promoting a healthy and a greener environment. It is felt by the Punjab University Ecological Society that if each one of us without any hesitation uses his bare hands to pick garbage at least in our residential areas, we can all contribute to the development of a keen civic sense in our society.’
There is no doubt that climate change is taking place and that human activity is a factor. This potential global crisis requires a
coordinated response in view of this planetary emergency which poses a threat to the future of humanity. We have before us irrefutable evidence on the extent of damage done to the environment. It is indeed a sad day.