The World Environment Day was observed on Tuesday under the aegis of the ITR in with association with four other organisations, including AIIMs, Bhubaneswar, Regional Pollution Control Board, Chemists and Druggists Association of Baleswar and an NGO of Bhadrak Jeevan Jyoti .The staff members with their families participated and gave a slogan of the ITR devolved by Director Dr Binay Das.
The enthusiastic participants also took out a rally in the town with placards and banners with message to the public to clean major places of the town, including bus terminals and the District Headquarters Hospital.
Further the staff of the test range staged a street play ‘Samayara ra Darkar’ depicting the importance of having a clean environment and requirement of curtailing the use of plastic in day to day life. The informative and educative street play with a loud and clear message against plastic was highly appreciated by one and all.
While about 650 people participated in the day long programme, which included plantation in the ITR campus too. About 100 saplings were planted.
Director Das said the ITR has taken several steps to protect environment, including mission to convert garbage to green, use of eco-friendly vehicles in the campus etc. “We are aspiring to use green energy and we are working on it,” said Das.
In the evening a Press meet was arranged by the ITR. Several senior scientists, including Associate Director B Sucherita, Joint Director CR Ojha, Niladri Roy and Deputy Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Dr MC Sahoo spoke. Senior officers of ITR SK Behera and Khageswar Sahoo coordinated. The speakers opined that with the rampant and mindless use of plastic, the mankind is inviting incurable dreaded diseases like cancer and other ailments.