The Institution of Engineers (India), Udaipur Local Centre Celebrates World Environment Day
Udaipur: The Institution of Engineers (India), Udaipur Local Centre, observed World Environment Day with an awareness-driven event highlighting the urgent need to eliminate plastic pollution. Welcoming guests, Chairman Er. Purushottam Paliwal emphasized that June 5 is observed every year as World Environment Day. This year’s theme focused on raising awareness about freeing our environment from plastic waste and striving towards a cleaner and greener future.
He underlined the global crisis of plastic pollution, which not only contaminates water sources, forests, and soil but also poses serious risks to human health and biodiversity. Millions of tons of plastic waste enter rivers, lakes, and oceans each year, severely affecting aquatic life and marine ecosystems. Mr. Paliwal urged citizens, industries, and government bodies to ban single-use plastics and adopt reuse, recycling, and responsible waste management practices.
Honorary Secretary Er. Piyush Javeria noted that several government initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Plastic-Free India Campaign, and Har Swachhta Abhiyan aim to spread awareness and reduce the impact of plastic waste. On this occasion, he called for a personal commitment to adopt eco-friendly alternatives in daily life to help safeguard the planet from plastic pollution.
Chief Guest and keynote speaker Dr. N.C. Jain, former PCC (Principal Chief Conservator) of Rajasthan and founder of the Sangram Holistic Eco Wellness Movement, highlighted the need to focus on sustainable lifestyles that foster a harmonious coexistence with nature. He stated that spirituality feels incomplete without nature, and vice versa. He called for a shift from the commonly promoted 3Rs — Reuse, Reduce, Recycle — to “Refuse” and proposed that this be taken up as a movement. He cited an example: if temple priests declared plastic as a sin inside temples, it could reduce its usage significantly.
Dr. Jain further added that hoarding of material goods, which leads to environmental degradation, is discouraged in all religions. To sustain humanity and nature, engineering must be linked with social responsibility. He warned that failure to protect the environment may pose a serious threat to human existence. Every species — aquatic or terrestrial — has a rightful place and role in the ecosystem, which must be respected.
He stressed the need to focus on zero carbon footprints and reminded the audience that nature gives unconditionally, expecting nothing in return — making it all the more crucial to protect it.
Dr. Sangeeta Chaudhary, Associate Professor at GITS, discussed the global challenge of managing the massive quantity of plastic waste. She pointed out that this issue stems from a lack of technical expertise in plastic waste management, underdeveloped recycling infrastructure, and limited public awareness regarding regulations. She emphasized that when plastic is mixed with organic waste, it becomes almost impossible to recycle, leading to its accumulation in public areas and water bodies. Over time, plastic breaks down into microplastics, which enter ecosystems, oceans, and eventually the food chain.
She warned that plastics release harmful chemicals that contaminate soil, water, and sediments, adversely affecting plants, animals, and microorganisms. Marine and coastal species are especially vulnerable. Many marine animals such as birds, mammals, and fish either ingest plastic or get entangled in it, leading to injuries, suffocation, reduced fertility, and population decline. This, in turn, disrupts the entire ecosystem and reduces biodiversity.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Er. Piyush Javeria.
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