Jaswant Singh Gandam/ Raman Nehra
PHAGWARA: Phagwara Environment Association organized the 33rd Environment Mela (fair) here with the help of educational and social organizations.
Headed by Kuldip K. Sardana, Joint MD, Sukhjit Starch and Chemicals Limited, the Association created awareness about eco-friendly environment in the Mela.
Association Secretary Malkiat Singh Ragbotra and Project Director Gurmit Palahi said that the mela was dedicated to ‘Mission Tandrust Punjab’ and it underlined the need of 4-Rs slogan for saving environment from further degradation.
These 4-Rs included Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse.
Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab, IAS, inaugurated it by releasing balloons while former Punjab minister and DCC President Joginder Singh Mann concluded it.
DC evinced keen interest in various stalls and events of the fair. Phagwara SDM Dr (Mrs) Sumit Mudh accompanied him.
Addressing a big gathering, Mr Tayyab said it was time to repair environment which had been damaged hugely with reckless use of precious resources and growing pollution. He called upon peoples to launch a drive of ‘No Polythene Home’ and ‘No entry to Plastic in House’.
“We should resort to ‘Jhola’(bags) campaign, bidding adieu to polythene”, he emphasized. He said whatever did not dissolve or could not be recycled should not be used.
Calling upon people to extend cooperation to government for saving environment for posterity, Mr Tayyab asked people to adopt a tree for greening surroundings.
Addressing the concluding function, Joginder Singh Mann disclosed various schemes of state government for making environment pollution-free.
The mela was preceded by an environment awareness rally in which hundreds of school children and other residents took part. Children displayed placards for eco-friendly environment.
Declamation contest, Pollution Check Up Camp, Flower Arrangement Competition, Creativity out of Waste material event, Fancy Dress competition, Health Baby competition, Body Building competition, Kite Flying competition, Drama on environment and cultural program were organized during the fair by Science Teachers Association, Rotary Club Phagwara North, Inner Wheel Club Phagwara, South East Inner Wheel Club, Bharat Vikas Parishad, JCI Phagwara Eves and Shakti, Rotary Club Chachoki, Lions Club Phagwara Diamond, Lions Club Phagwara Greater respectively.
Earlier, folk songs competition, on the spot painting competition, skit competition, Science Fair were organized by Lions Club Phagwara Vishwas, Rotary Club Phagwara South East, Lord Mahavir Jain Public School, Lions Club Phagwara Royal respectively at various local schools.
‘Vatavarn’ rally was organized by Alliance Club Phagwara.
