JOIN US'Environment conservation is Constitutional duty'
Conservation of the environment should be taken up on priority, said District and Session Judge T Venkatesh Naik.
He was speaking after inaugurating the district ‘Parisara Mitra Shale’ award ceremony organised by the Udupi district unit of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in association with the district administration.
The magistrate said protecting the environment is prime constitutional duty. “Rights come with responsibilities. Ethically, it is incorrect to enjoy privileges and not practise responsibilities. Global warming is increasing at an alarming rate. In this backdrop, every individual should take oath to protect the environment which is massively polluted. The Constitution also entrusts the conservation of nature,” he reminded.
The magistrate added that awareness on nature conservation should be created at school-level. He also stressed on taking up the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to keep the surroundings and the environment clean and hygienic. The clean surroundings ensure better health and living conditions, he added.
A talk on fundamental rights and the environment was given by advocate Hamja H K on the occasion.
The ‘Parisara Mitra Shale’ award was given away to Sunder Puranik Memorial Government Composite High School, Pervaje, in Karkala. The award included Rs 30,000 cash prize.
More than 300 applications were received and 33 schools were able to reach the final round. The school visit programme was held for 45 days in the final round and 21 schools were selected, said the environment expert Arvind Hebbar.