Ganderbal: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath Wednesday underscored the urgent need to safeguard the environment and fragile ecosystem for achieving the Sustained Development Goals (SDGs) as envisioned by the G-20 Nations vis-à-vis environmental protection.
“The need of the hour is to accelerate ecosystem restoration, enriching biodiversity; promoting a sustainable and climate-resilient economy; and encouraging the use of renewable energy,” Prof. A Ravinder Nath, said while inaugurating a one-day awareness programme on “Environmental Protection,” on the theme “Protect Environment or Perish,” organized by the Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, at Tulmulla Campus here, under the G-20 University Connect.
CUK Vice Chancellor said the energy resources available across the world should be utilized judiciously and equitably without compromising the future needs. He said the women folk should be sensitized about the need to protect the environment so that the same could trickle to the next generation. Prof. Nath called for collaborative efforts for tackling the increasing environment degradation and asked the institutions of higher learning and the government departments to join hands in order to check the menace of environmental pollution.
About the construction of permanent structures at the designated Tulmulla campus, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, said the infrastructure development would be a thrust area and the basic facilities would be provided to the students and staff. On the side-lines of the event, he asked the executing agencies, to expedite the construction of permanent structures.
Addressing the gathering, Commissioner/Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Mr. Saurabh Bhagat, said the environmental activism should begin at respective homes. “We should segregate the waste at homes and try to dispose them properly,” he said. Mr. Bhagat highlighted the need to use renewable energy in the form of solar panels to prevent further deterioration of the environment by the use of fossil fuels.
Speaking on the occasion, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said the receding glaciers and increasing sea water level has sounded alarm bells among the environmentalists. Prof. Zargar said. He said that under the G-20 Presidency, the country has an opportunity to evolve a comprehensive and consensus-driven approach to tackle the challenges of climate change. Prof.
Dean, School of Life Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Yousuf said the objective of the programme was to raise awareness and educate the youth about their role in environment protection.

KR Desk