DESERTIFICATION CAN be checked through proper government policies and co-operation of the citizens. Increasing population will lead to massive desertification in the country by the year 2025, said renowned environmentalist Prof GS Singh of Banaras Hindu University.
He was speaking as the keynote speaker at a programme organised by Department of Environmental Studies, Allahabad University (AU) on the occasion of World Environment Day on Monday.
Prof Singh said the environmental pollution has risen to an alarming level in course of industrial development. The level of carbon-di-oxide which never crossed the limit of 280 PPM (parts per million) as per data of past 4000 years has reached to 373 PPM due to rapid industrialisation without following the norms for conservation of environment.
He said the level of extinction of species is also very high. More than 50 percent of the existing species may become extinct in near future. About 45 percent of the agricultural land in the country has been affected by the desertification, he further informed.
The citizens should come forward against the threat to environment and other allied problems due to desertification.
{{/usCountry}}The citizens should come forward against the threat to environment and other allied problems due to desertification.
{{/usCountry}}AU Vice-Chancellor Prof RG Harshe was the chief guest on the occasion while Head of Environmental Studies department Dr Mishra presided over the programme.
Prof Harshe in his speech advocated for preservation of environment and said that awareness programmes would be of great help in this regard.
Earlier AU's head of Geography department Prof HN Mishra said that sustainable development could be achieved only through conservation of environment and the natural resources should be conserved for the future.
Prof Mishra said that colossal damage has been done to the environment under the name of development and we are likely to witness a very dark future. He suggested that there is no immediate solution to the problem and education about environmental pollution at local level is the best option which could lead to environment conservation on greater level.
Cultural and educational items were presented by the students while Sadhna Yadav and Anjali Pandey conducted the programme. Prof MC Chattopadhyay, Prof PK Khare and Geeta Harshe were also present on the occasion.