Aligarh: The faculty members and students of various departments, centres and faculties joined the ‘World Environment Day’ celebrations with a slew of green activities across the Aligarh Muslim University. Cleaning drives, awareness programmes and plantation activities were some of the highlights of the day.

Dr Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College observed the day under the Mission LiFE. The Principal of the college, Prof RK Tewari delivered a talk on “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience” emphasizing the need for adopting comprehensive land restoration practices to combat the adverse effects of desertification and drought. He also touched on this year’s theme, “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”, which resonates with one of the seven themes of Mission LiFE, “Saying No to Single-use Plastics”.

A tree plantation drive was organized at the College premises. A documentary film was shown to the students, highlighting the significance of cultivating appropriate crops and discouraging tobacco-related farming, advocating for healthier and more sustainable agricultural practices.

At the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, chairpersons of different departments, faculty members, students and non-teaching staff participated in the plantation drive which aimed at generating sustainability and environmental consciousness, aligning with the global theme of “land restoration, stopping desertification and building drought resilience”.

Prof Akram Ahmad Khan, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences led the plantation drive which witnessed the plantation of 100 saplings of different kinds of trees such as Aonla, Badhel, Casia, Amaltas, Arjun and Alstonia, etc, also including ornamental and horticultural plants.

Prof PQ Rizvi highlighted the importance of plants in protecting the environment and urged the participants to plant more and more trees in their localities. A B.Sc. (Agriculture) student, Aleema Zehra also expressed her views regarding the safety and security of plants.

The Department of Botany observed World Environment Day by organizing several competitive events, including the essay writing competition on 'Impact of Biodiversity on Human Health' and poster making on 'Water: The Everything'. Prof M Abul Fazal, Head, Department of Botany, BN Mandal University of Madehpura in Bihar evaluated the posters and essays.

In the essay writing competition, the first prize went to Al-Aqsa and the second prize was won by Kajal Yadav. Elma Khan was given the consolation prize.

Shivani Singh won the first prize in the poster-making competition, while the second prize went to Saba Fatima, and the consolation prize was given to Surbhi Singh and Elma Khan.

Prof M Badruzzaman Siddiqui distributed certificates to the participants. Prof Anwar Shahzad coordinated the programme.

The faculty members and students participated in a pledge ceremony at the Department of Philosophy which was led by the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Arif Nazir and the Chairperson of the department, Dr Aquil Ahmad. They expressed their commitment to working toward sustainable development, through individual and group endeavours. They also participated in the plantation drive aimed at raising awareness about the importance of trees in maintaining ecological balance.

At the Department of Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib, while delivering a lecture, Prof SMS Ashraf, Chairman of the department, said that the social environment is of greater importance and we can play a key role in safeguarding and conserving the environment by planting trees.

He urged the students to spread the message, "Spread love towards the mother nature, and not the hatred".

The Dean, the Faculty of Unani Medicine, Prof Obaidullah Khan and the Principal of Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Prof BD Khan inaugurated the distribution of twigs of rose flowers as a token of love on the campus. Prof BD Khan, along with PG students and interns presented a twig of rose to the Registrar Mohd Imran.

At the STS School, the day witnessed a massive plantation drive with the chief guest, Director, Directorate of School Education at AMU, Prof Asfar Ali Khan and the Principal, Faisal Nafis planting saplings. Nafis presented a plant to Prof Asfar Ali Khan as a gesture of appreciation for his support in promoting environmental awareness.

In his address, Prof Khan said that environmental conservation is not just an activity but a way of life and by planting these saplings today, we are investing in a greener tomorrow for our future generations.

Nafis stated that today, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to protect and nurture our planet, and today's plantation drive is a step towards creating a greener and healthier environment.

Mohd Adnan Khan, Mudassir Ali Rizvi, Mohammad Asim and Nasreen Fatima played an important role in organizing the plantation drive.

At the AMU ABK High School (Boys), the Principal, teachers and non-teaching staff participated in a plantation drive and planted saplings of ‘Ashoka’ on the school premises.

The AMU ABK High School (Girls) observed the day with a plantation drive which saw the plantation of three Gulmohar plants by Vice Principal Dr Saba Hasan and senior teacher Farhat Nafees and Kausar Shahab.

The class teachers shared online videos with students highlighting the importance of planting trees and motivating them to plant trees in their localities.

The staff members took a pledge to motivate students to develop eco-friendly habits and sensitize them towards environmental challenges such as climate change, deforestation, pollution, etc.

The Programme Coordinators Farhat Parveen, Fakhra Yaseen and Md Imran Khan played a key role in organizing the programme.

At the Abdullah School, School Superintendent Umra Zaheer administered a pledge to the teaching and non-teaching staff to safeguard the environment with a special focus on Land restoration, stopping desertification and developing drought resilience.

A plantation drive also took place in the school premises. 

The AMU City Girls' High School, the Principal, Dr Md Alamgir led a plantation drive and planted Caria Palm, while Dr Samia Hamid and Sahar Naqvi made a PPT presentation and Ambareen Rehman delivered a talk highlighting the issues and challenges in conserving the environment and their remedies.

Dr Alamgir called for a balance between the availability and use of natural resources which is essential for the conservation of the natural environment for the forthcoming generations.

Tehmina Ashraf conducted the programme which was coordinated by the Cultural Coordinator Farzana Nazeer.

At the Rural Health Training Centre of Jawan, five different kinds of plants were planted in the RHTC premises under the guidance of the Member Incharge, Prof Uzma Eram.

At a programme in the Allama Iqbal Boarding House, the guests of honour, Prof Abid Ali Khan, Deputy Director, DSE and Dr Shamim Akhtar, Director, Centre of Continuing and Adult Education and Extension emphasized the significance of creating a greener and sustainable environment.

The Warden-in-Charge, Mohd Aiyub Shabab threw light on the importance of tree plantation and the officiating Principal, Saiyyid Hamid Senior Secondary School (Boys), Dr Shakeel Ahmad Alvi and Vice Principal Mohd Javed highlighted the need for a green environment for all living beings on the earth and exhorted all to keep their surroundings green.

The guests also participated in a plantation drive in the Boarding House premises.