Patna: The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) marked World Environment Day on Wednesday with a quiz competition focused on environmental topics for students in classes 9 to 12. A total of 36 teams from the districts of Madhubani, Purnia, Jamui, and Patna participated in the event.
In his opening address, BSPCB’s member secretary S. Chandrasekar, welcomed Chief Guest, Bandana Preyshi, secretary (environment, forest & climate change) and emphasized the importance of public participation in environmental conservation. He noted the Board’s efforts to inspire the nation’s future generations to engage in environmental protection.
Dr. D.K. Shukla, Chairman of the BSPCB, who presided over the program, highlighted the significance of the quiz competition in raising awareness, particularly among the youth. Dr. Shukla discussed the increasing awareness of environmental issues such as excessive rainfall, dry spells, and rising temperatures. He stressed the urgent need for land conservation, pointing out that 35 percent of India’s land has been eroded. He also discussed the impact of soil erosion on carbon dioxide emissions and emphasized the potential of solar energy and efficient rainfall usage in mitigating environmental degradation.
Secretary Preyashi congratulated the quiz competition winners and praised all participants for their commitment to environmental causes. She noted the significance of World Environment Day in raising public awareness and highlighted various state initiatives, including tree planting, essay writing, and painting competitions. Preyashi mentioned the state’s comprehensive policy to reduce carbon emissions, which involves multiple departments working together to address pollution and environmental degradation.
She pointed out Bihar’s leading role in tree plantation, with about 4 crore trees planted last year and a target of 4.5 crore trees for this year. Bihar’s green budget initiative, which allocates funds from each department for environmentally friendly projects, was also highlighted as a pioneering effort. Preyashi emphasized India’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and noted the country’s progress in non-conventional energy use, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
At the end of the event, participants, parents, guests, and council employees took an 11-point resolution on environmental protection. BSPCB’s member secretary S Chandrasekar congratulated the successful students, expressing optimism about the future generation’s vigilance and awareness regarding environmental conservation.
