Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), J&K Chapter organized World Environment Day 2018 on the theme ‘Natural Heritage and Plastic Pollution’. Prof R. D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu was the Chief Guest on the occasion and Prof. Geeta Sumbali, Dean Life Sciences was the guest of honour. 

Prof. R.D. Sharma applauded the efforts made by the organizers in conserving the natural heritage and managing the pollution of these sites. He apprised the audience that University of Jammu has also taken steps to ban some items of plastic in the campus and slowly and steadily it will be extended to other plastic items also. He appealed to the youngsters to change their habits of use and throw culture and follow the traditional cultural practices to combat the menace of plastic pollution.

Prof. Geeta Sumbali also recalled the environmentally sustainable practices being followed earlier. She appealed the audience to remove the plastic from the day to day life as much as possible.

Prof. Anil K. Raina, fromDepartment of Environmental Sciences gave an extensive lecture on various aspects of plastic pollution highlighting the global generation, sources, causes, effects and combat strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of plastic pollution.

Earlier, Prof. Raj Kumar Rampal, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, welcomed the august gathering and talked about the genesis of Environment Day celebrations and introduced the theme of the Environment Day 2018.

At the end, Dr. C.M. Seth presented formal vote of thanks. The other dignitaries present during the occasion included Prof. S.P.S. Dutta, Shri S. M. Sahni (Convenor, INTACH), Shri Kuldip Wahi (Co-Convenor, INTACH), Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Dr. Piyush Malaviya, Dr. Meenakshi Khajuria, Satwant Singh Rissam, Rajesh Sharma, Veenakshi Koul (GM, JKTDC), Vinod Malhotra and Ashok Tadia besides, students, research scholars and the staff of Department of Environmental Sciences and members of INTACH, Jammu Chapter.