The Union Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with Chandigarh University organised the “Young India Walkathon – Walk to raise concern on changing climate and weather” at Sukhna Lake here today.
The walkathon was part of the 23rd National Children’s Science Congress-2015 being organised by the DST at Chandigarh University in which over 2,000 students from 26 states, seven UTs and three countries, including UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, took part.
B Purushartha, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, and Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University, flagged off the walkathon. Students and the chief guest took a pledge to work towards protecting the environment and keeping it clean and green.
While interacting with the students on the occasion, Purushartha said, “We need to be serious towards our environment and everyone should do their bit to address the concerns towards changing climate and weather as it has already started affecting mankind adversely.”
Briefing about the steps taken by the Municipal Corporation towards a clean and green city, Purushartha added, “Chandigarh’s first bio-methanation plant which is coming up in Industrial Area will be functional soon and will process wet garbage collected from the city and produce power from it.”
In addition to this, electricity audit for government buildings has been planned to check the consumption of power in government and MC offices while campaign to replace faulty bulbs with power saving LED lights has been taken up by the Municipal Corporation that helps in containing the electricity consumption in city beautiful, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, CU Chancellor Sandhu said, “Chandigarh has always been known forits cleanliness and greenery and with the selection of City Beautiful for the smart city project, the campaign to keep it environment-friendly will be taken up with the help of technology as well.”
Dr Ujjwla T Tirkkey, National Head, National Children’s Science Congress, was also present along with 100 scientists from the Department of Science and Technology during the walkathon.