The Athagarh Press Club held a national seminar on ‘Industrial Growth and Environmental Degradation’ on May 15 here. Club secretary Dinesh Das presented a paper.
Chief Guest Sub Collector Trilochan Pradhan said that while at present the European countries are adopting agrarian industries, the Asian countries are running the worst polluting units.
However, he cautioned that agricultural sectors generate more methane and carbon dioxide making environment warm and polluted. He interacted with students and urged them to stabilize environmental pollution by enhancing green fields.
Chief Speaker Prof Dr Pramoda K Das from Jawaharlal Nehru University told that industries must grow to make the country prosperous but simultaneously we have to be careful about the rapid degradation of the environment.
Guest of Honour Assistant Conservator of Forest Nibedita Das said that due to massive tree cutting and industrialisation in Athagarh, elephants and other wild animals are facing a problem to move freely and lead a peaceful life. She complained that industrial houses in Athagarh have erected high fences by blocking the elephant corridors.
Other dignitaries, who spoke, included NAC Chairman Subarna Manjari Bhanja and former Judge Chittaranjan Dash spoke.
The guests felicitated HSC (2013) toppers of the sub division such as SN Samiksha, Divyaranjan Sahoo, Shaktibhusan Mohanty and Suvam Sahoo with bouquets, medals and citations. Scribe Parthasarathi Patnaik presided.