PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Sept 26: Seva Parv was observed at the Ghatshila-based Sona Devi University under the joint aegis of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand, and the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
The event, held at the university’s Vivekananda Auditorium, also had the support of the Divisional Forest Office, Jamshedpur.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Alok Sinha, Head of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, underlined the significance of raising awareness about environmental protection and climate change.
He stressed the need to involve citizens, especially youth and students, in activities like cleanliness drives, plantation, biodiversity conservation, and pollution control.
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Highlighting the importance of water resources, Prof. Sinha said groundwater is rich in nutrients, but excessive use of water filters reduces its quality.
He also cautioned about harmful elements in water that, when present in excess, can cause severe health issues.
Prof. Suresh Pandian, a scientist from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, elaborated on how unchecked exploitation of natural resources could severely affect human life in the future.
He explained technical aspects related to air quality index and water quality, emphasizing their direct impact on human health and the ecosystem.
He appealed to the gathering to turn environmental protection into a mass movement under the spirit of ‘Seva hi Sangathan’ and called for greater social participation to combat the challenges of climate change.
Earlier, inaugurating the program, Gulab Singh Azad, Registrar of Sona Devi University, said that lifestyle changes are essential for preserving the environment.
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Referring to recent natural calamities in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, he stressed that such disasters are consequences of environmental degradation.
He also highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the university’s NSS unit and students, including plantation drives, awareness rallies, water conservation, and energy-saving measures on campus.
Vice-Chancellor J.P. Mishra, in his address, remarked that human exploitation of nature is directly responsible for environmental degradation and related disasters.
“We live in an age of confusion. If we protect nature, it will also protect us,” he said.
The program witnessed the presence of Chancellor Prabhakar Singh, heads of faculties, department chairpersons, students, and distinguished guests.
Seva Parv, which began on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, will continue till October 2, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
The event concluded with the national anthem.
