Protect ozone layer to save life

Kapurthala: Fast depletion of stratospheric ozone layer allows harmful UV radiation to penetrate earth atmosphere and causes several direct and indirect harmful effects on human beings as well as on other living beings. The most severe and serious effect of UV radiation on human being is skin cancer. The other health disorders of UV radiation are cataract of eyes, mutations and loss of immunity. This was expressed by Ms Anuradha Sharma Environmental  Engineer from Punjab Pollution control Board at  the occasion of celebration of World Ozone Day  during a webinar on "Ozone for Life : 35 years of Ozone Layer Protection organized by PushpaGujral Science City Kapurthala

Further she said that, there is no second opinion that alleviation of public awareness on all aspects including environmental protection can give wonderful results. Hence public awareness programs assumea significant place. The purpose of the celebration of this day is to create public awareness about substances that play a significant role in the depletion of the Earth’s Ozone layer, which in turn play a vital role in protecting life on Earth, and also to make people aware that these threats are caused mainly due to man-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration and air-conditioning industries.

Dr. Neelima Jerath, Director General PGSC in her introductory remarks said that World Ozone Day celebrated on 16 September every year gives the message that collective decisions and actions guided by science are the only way to solve major global crisis. In this year of the COVID19 pandemic, that has brought such social and economic hardship, the ozone treaties’ message of working together in harmony with nature and for the collective good is more important than ever. She further added that slogan of the day, ‘Ozone for life’, reminds us that not only ozone is  crucial for life on Earth, but that we must continue to protect the ozone layer for future generations.

Dr. Rajesh Grover, Director Science City present at the occasion urged the students to protect and save ozone layer by planting more and more trees, use public transport and also emphasized on the usage of re-newable sources of energy.    
Result of online essay writing competition : Simranjit Kaur  from  St. Carmel School, Rupnagar has received first prize, Second prize goes to Gurkamal Preet Kaur from  State Public School, Jalandhar and third prize bagged to  Sukhroop Kaur from  Sant Sar Public Senior Secondary School, Amritsar