International Earth Day Celebrations at Panjab University

Chandigarh April 19, 2023: The Technology Enabling Centre (DST-TEC) of Panjab University celebrated International Earth Day today in the UICET-Auditorium, Panjab University. Students of Engineering, Sciences, Arts, Social Science and other streams attended the auspicious occasion. The theme of this Earth Day celebration was “Indian Philosophy on Environment”. Er. Gopal Arya, Renowned Environmentalist (All India Convener – Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG)) was the expert speaker.
 
Satpal Jain (Ex-MP, Chandigarh), Prof. Amrit Pal Toor (Chairperson, UICET), Prof. C R Suri (Chairman, DST-TEC), Prof. Rupinder Tewari (Mentor, DST-TEC), Prof. Manu Sharma (Coordinator, DST-TEC), Praveen (Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, Punjab), Prof. Rakesh Sharda (PAU Ludhiana), Prabhu Nath (Rtd. Air force), Rajiv Gupta, Satyender, Renu Gupta, Haryaval Panjab, and other dignitaries were also present for celebrating Earth Day. Prof. Manu Sharma, Coordinator DST-TEC welcomed all the guests and participants. He urged that we need to develop sustainable and environmental-friendly technologies for the betterment of our society.
 
During his talk, Er. Gopal Arya said, “Earth Day is an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Mother Nature provides air, water, seeds, forests, food etc. to us and it’s our responsibility to save our nature”. He said that once our country was described as a “golden sparrow” where several God’s took birth during each Yuga and now due to eco-system imbalance our country have worst air quality index. Several cities are facing rise in temperature, extinction of flora and fauna, reduction in water level etc., so there is an urgent need of Ecosystem restoration which should be conceptualised efficiently during this decade by our youths. He added, “we need trees for our environment, breathe, and even after death for our funeral. During Lockdown, when everyone was at home, the Nature revives as there was no one to disturb the ecological balance”. He provided facts that if it rains 5000 litre, we get only 1 litre is the drinking water. He gave examples of Cherapunji and Jaisalmer to evaluate the value of natural water resource. Cherapunji receives maximum rainfall but have crisis for drinking water whereas Jaisalmer receives least rainfall but have better utilization. For the betterment of our environment, we need to change our attitude towards nature, empathises on betterment of nature, and change our lifestyle. He urged the youth to eliminate single-use plastic from our daily life and try to reduce our carbon footprints.
 
Er. Saksham Shukla, a student of UIET, Panjab University was highly impressed with the informative knowledge shared by Er. Gopal Arya. He said, “We all should adopt AEL (Attitude change, Empathetic, Lifestyle) technology for the betterment of our Mother Nature”. Dr. Pankaj Sharma, Manager (DST-TEC) said, “We have to change our attitude & lifestyle and use our traditional knowledge & wisdom to protect our environment.”

Prof. Rupinder Tewari shared that Panjab University and Chandigarh Administration have their vision to protect our environment. All the participants were enlightened with the vision of Er. Gopal Arya and made promise for the sustainable growth of mother India.