Chandigarh,23 Apr:TODAY, in a true spirit of ‘World Earth Day Observance’ at 8 in the morning a group of 150 young students led by Mrs. Sarbjit, Eco Club incharge of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Mr. Om Parkash, Eco Club Incharge of Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 46 D, volunteers of Yuvsatta and staff of Deptt. of Environment, Chandigarh Administration picked up litter like empty Coke/Pepsi/Juice cans, ice-cream cups, packaging material, pan-gutka sachets, bags strewn alongside the Sukhna Lake. Around 300 kg. of waste was collected in an hour from the sides of lake.Addressing the volunteers Mr. Ishwar Singh, Director, Deptt. of Environment said that today’s Cleanliness drive at Sukhna Lake will further strengthen the will of young ones to conserve life on mother earth. He said events like World Earth Day facilitate platforms for young people to participate, get them engaged and celebrate their contributions to the communities where they live.
Later students were taken on a trekking tour of Botanical Garden, where in a formal function three best ECO-CLUBS of the city (for the year 2006-07) were honoured. Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 46 D was adjudged first and got Rs. 10,000 as Prize money and a memento, second place went to Eco Clubs of Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 44 B, which got Rs. 8000/- and a memento and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25, Chandigarh was declared third with a memento and Rs. 6000/- as there award.
Winners of Inter School Essay Writing Competition organized on the theme of ‘What Can I Do for My City’, which saw participation of around 1000 students, were also honoured on the occasion. Prominent winners were in Senior Category, First Prize went to Deepti of DAV Sr. Sec. School (Lahore), Sector 8 and in Junior Category, First Prize went to Ujjwala Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education, Sector 27 A. Three Schools DAV Sr. Sec. School (Lahore), Sector 8, Carmel Convent School, Sector 9 & Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Sector 38 W, were also honoured for overall best participation in the Essay Writing Competition.
Sharing her concerns Mrs. Prem Joshi, Principal of the Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 44 B said that we individually and with the help of others, should respect and protect Earth’s amazing web of life, its soil, water, air, plants and living creatures, we have to ‘act as trustees’ of our portion of our planet.
Now to promote culture of cycling, on April 26, 2008, 3rd IndianOil Inter-School Bicycles Games will be organized at Moti Ram Arya Sr. Sec. Model School, Sector 27 A, Chandigarh.