'Ideal time to regenerate environment'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 29 2020:
Department of Environment and Climate Change Deputy Director T Brajakumar has appealed to one and all to capitalise on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to create a safe and healthy environment for the future.
Speaking at a simple function held at Manipur Press Club where face masks were distributed to media persons, the Deputy Director further said that the current COVID-19 pandemic should be taken as a golden opportunity for rejuvenating the environment.
Further opining that the prevailing pandemic must also be taken as a red signal for stopping all activities which are detrimental to environment, he appealed all to ponder on what can be done for restoring the degrading environment at this stage and start acting on the ideas.
While pointing out that scientists across the globe are now trying to scientifically prove the connection between environmental degradation like climate change and the current COVID-19 pandemic, Brajakumar claimed that there are many scientific reports which point out that the COVID-19 death toll is higher in the places where the emission of green house gases is high.
The Deputy Director also noted that there is always a close connection between certain aspects of fighting COVID-19 like keeping immune system strong and leading a hygienic lifestyle with that of keeping the environment neat and clean.
SEVA CEO Khundrakpam Chinglen conveyed that the face masks distributed today were weaved by the Self Help Groups of SEVA by using the sewing machines that run on power generated through solar plates installed under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which is a programme for encouraging renewable energy to mitigate the effects of global warming.
He also informed that the face masks would also be distributed to security personnel, staff of Health Department working in community quarantine centres, among others.
EGM president Khogendra Khomdram and AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam expressed gratitude to the Department of Environment and Climate Change and SEVA for their goodwill gesture of recognizing the works of media personnel.
Directorate of Environment and Climate Change Director Y Nabachandra was also present at the function.