Awareness programmes to continue for a week.

Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board(APPCB) Chairman B.S.S. Prasad called upon the public to opt for public transport like APSRTC buses and trains besides planting saplings to protect the environment.

Flagging off a rally by the APPCB here, Mr. Prasad said that the increasing population and number of private vehicles had been contributing to the rise in pollution levels.

The rally began at the office of APPCB at Gurunanak Nagar and proceeded through the Pantakaluva Road, the NTR Circle and the Gora Science Centre. Folk dancers from Badrachalam in Telangana, led by M. Rajaiah, presented the traditional Kommu Koya Dance (Horn Dance) as part of the rally.

A meeting was held at the Gora Science Centre where experts talked about the need to protect the environment, particularly at a time when plastic pollution had become a global problem. It was attended by Divisional Forest Officer(DFO) (Territorial) N. Ramachandra Rao, DFO (Social Forestry) V. Bhaskar Rao, APPCB Zonal Officer B. Madhusudhan Rao, Agriculture Department Joint Director Mohan Rao and APPCB Vijayawada regional office Environmental Engineer(EE) M. Narayana.

At Ajith Singh Nagar, the AP Council of Science and Technology (APCOST) organised an awareness rally, which was attended by Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu, Municipal Corporation Deputy Education Officer M. Nagalingeswara Rao, teachers and students. APCOST District Science Coordinator Mynam Hussain, who led the rally, said that the environmental awareness programmes would continue for a week in the city.

Flash mob at airport

At the city airport in Gannavaram, the Airports Authority of India conducted a flash mob in collaboration with students of Maris Stella College, promoting the theme ‘Beat air pollution and save environment’.

The airport authorities have planted about 250 saplings on the airport premises.

The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati conducted an art competition marking the day. APPCB EE M. Narayana inaugurated the celebrations in which former chemical engineer at AP Genco M.K. Surya Prakasarao took part.

The Amma Premashramam, in association with the Shobhit University and the Horticulture Produce Management Institute from Uttar Pradesh, organised a seminar ‘Clean India, Green India and Healthy India’ here.

In Guntur, the celebrations were organised by the Environment Health Management wing at Guntur Railway Station on Wednesday. Divisional Railway manager V.G. Bhooma was present.

The day began by administering a pledge by the officers and a ‘nukkad natak’, performed by railways staff on the theme ‘Beat Air Pollution’, which was followed by a rally. Additional Divisional Railway Manager C.M. Ranganath said that the emphasis was on reducing air pollution in railways by following the four Rs- reduce, recycle, reuse and recover. He reiterated the importance of using public transport or car pooling. Mass tree planting was conducted by all divisional officers along with staff at the coaching depot/GNT and the Rail Vikas Bhavan.