A two-day State-level youth convention organised by the People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), in association with ECOSAVERS Youth Network and Adoptions Centrum, was held on June 27and 28 here.
The speakers told that around 33 per cent of world population at present lives in water-stressed countries. 67 per cent will experience water shortage by 2025.
By 2050 around 7 billion people in 60 countries may have to cope with water scarcity.
Currently, the world population is about 6 billion and is projected to reach 10 billion by 2040, based on the present growth rate of 1.5 per cent per year.
This excessive number should signal a call for action concerning resource use and management. Erosion of farmland, overuse of both surface and groundwater, dwindling supplies of finite fossil fuels, and escalating extinction of plant and animal species imperil the ability of the earth's resources to meet the needs of such enormous numbers of humans.
The food situation worldwide is becoming critical. Environmental issues are one of the primary causes of disease, health issues, and long-term livelihood impact for India. There are many environmental issues in India which includes air and water pollution, garbage disposal, and so on.
They told that the many problems that are now evident emphasize the urgent need to reassess the status of environmental resources.
They said that based on the evidence, definitive plans must be developed to improve environmental management now and for the future. Youths need to join hands together and discharge their responsibility for protecting the environment.
Around 70 youths from different parts of the State which includes members of ECOSAVER youth network promoted by PECUC, CAUSE, YSC, DISHA, OlS, Ruchika, PAllISHREE, Sikhyasandhan and NSS volunteers participated in the convention and decided to take up massive plantation, forests protection, campaigning against use of plastics, promotion of organic kitchen garden, conservation of rainwater, making bird nests, observing different days relating to environment and creating awareness among general public, youths, children and community people.
Additional Secretary of General Administration Department Pradeep Biswal, Senior Environment Scientist, State Pollution Control Board Dr Dilip Kumar Behera, Assistant Conservator Forest, City forest Division,Bhubaneswar Ashok Mishra, Country Director, Adoptions Centrum Ruby Rout, secretary, PECUC Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, Prof Balaram Panigrahi, HOD, Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, OUAT, research scholar Shailani Suman and Anuradha Mohanty of PECUC spoke.
