GDC Tral Concludes Environmental Week Celebrations

Tral, 8 June: Week long activities regarding celebration of World Environmental Week Awareness concluded on Tuesday.

The series of programs was organized by Department of Environmental Science in collaboration with IQAC and Debates, Seminar and Cultural Committee of Government Degree College Tral.

The 1st day (5th June 2021) of the event was kickstarted with an inaugural address by Prof (Dr) Mohammad Farooq Mir, Principal Government College Tral.

In his inaugural address he deliberated on various environmental and ecological degradation issues.

He highlighted the status of various Ecosystems in the Kashmir valley and cited an example of an aquatic ecosystem like Dal Lake.

He has also highlighted how humans as the crown of creation have destroyed their pristine environment in the race of development and have moved to an unsustainable lifestyle. Prof (Dr) Mohammad Farooq Mir announced the Poster and Quiz competition for students to be held on 5th and 7th June, respectively.

Dr Fayaz Ahmad Malla, Head Department of Environmental Science of the college presented a detailed account of Ecosystem Services, Degradation of Ecosystem Services and their restoration.

The session was followed by an interactive session during which Dr Fayaz answered satisfactorily several questions raised by the audience.

On the second day of the program, Dr Fayaz Ahmad Malla presented the formal welcome address.

In this address, he vociferated that how Ecosystem loss is depriving the world of carbon sinks such as forests and wetlands at a time when it cannot be afforded.

He highlighted that biodiversity loss continues which results in severe reductions in ecosystem goods and services, negatively impacting economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

The principal of the college, Prof (Dr.) Mohammad Farooq Mir presented the keynote addressed.

In his address he highlighted various pathways of environmental degradations that are happening all over the globe.

He pointed out how intensive use of fertilizers and pesticide in agriculture and horticulture have disturbed both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

He deliberated how water pollution has reduced the aquatic biodiversity because of which Kashmir water bodies have lost many indigenous fishes’ species.

The program was carried forward by the erudite presentation by the guest speaker Dr Suhaib Ahmad Bandh, HoD Environmental Science, GDC D H Pora.

In his speech, Dr Bandh deliberated on how humans have gradually approached an unsustainable lifestyle.

He gave an account of various Ecosystem degradation pathways which humans have adopted, particularly after industrialization.

He also talked extensively that how Covid-19 has impacted human life and have helped Ecosystems, particularly the atmosphere, to revive from pollutions.

The presentations were followed by a question answer session in which various question related to ecosystem problems in contemporary time has been answered by the Esteemed speaker.

On the third day of the program (7th June 2021), Prof Aadil Rehman, Assistant Professor Commerce, formally welcomed the participants of the event.

In his welcome address, he in his unique style threw light on the role of human beings in degrading the ecosystem.

He underscored how we are not learning from our past mistakes after harming our ecosystem.

He linked sustainability, environment and employment by quoting various examples.

Prof Laila Khalid, Assistant Professor English, presented her talk on Eco-criticism and Ecofeminism.

In her presentation she connected Eco-criticism, Ecofeminism, fiction, non-fiction, music, visual arts with the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Dr. Masood Majaz, HoD Botany, deliberated upon the role of plants in restoring and sustaining any ecosystem.

He highlighted the role of various plant species that could be used for food, fodder for the wild and domestic animals.

He pointed out how various species of algae are used in the eutrophic water body for remediation.

Prof. Bashir Ahmad Shah, HoD Department of Political Science, while speaking about environmental degradation connected politics, armed race with the ecosystem.

He impressed upon that our ecosystem is enough to fulfil our needs but too little to satiate our greed.

In the valedictory session, worthy principal of the college, Prof (Dr) Mohammad Farooq Mir, pointed out the adoption of long- and short-term goals for eco-restoration to make the ecosystem more sustainable. Prof Ishaq Ahmad Wani announced the results for Poster and Quiz Competitions.

In Poster Competition, the 1st Position was secured by Waqar un Nisa of BA student from GDC Tral, 2nd Position was secured by Shahida Majid of BSc from GDC Tral and 3rd Position was bagged by Saleeka Majid, a B Com student from Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar.

In the Quiz Competition, 1st position was bagged by Kumari Shivani of B.Com from GCW Parade Ground, Jammu, 2nd Position was secured by Chakshu Chadha of BSc from GCW Parade Ground, Jammu and 3rd Position was secured by Ajaz Ahmad Mir of BA from GDC Tral.

The Program was attended by participants (faculty and students) from various Colleges all over the Jammu and Kashmir.

The programs were moderated by Dr Fayaz Ahmad Malla, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Dar and Prof Ishaq Ahmad Wani and the Votes of Thanks were proposed by Mr. G M Rather and Prof Laila Khalid.