Participating in a discussion on the prevention of ozone layer depletion on the occasion of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer, or the World Ozone Day on Saturday here, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) Member Secretary Debidutta Biswal called for greater awareness among the students on the grave issue and the actions to be taken for a safe environment.
The theme was ‘Caring for all lives under the sun'. He made the students aware about the adverse effects of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and the various initiatives taken by the Government for protection of the ozone layer.
By the awareness programme, the students will contribute for improved environmental quality and prevent the possible danger, he said.
The United Nation (UN) took the lead to regulate the production and consumption of ODS. India has also taken the initiatives to phase out ODS by switching over to non-depleting substances for an Ozone Cell was established in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF and CC), which prepare specific plan for phasing out ODS for implementation of regulatory mechanism. India has taken initiative for not manufacturing of CFC- based products after January, 2003, he said.
According to research of scientists of NASA and OOA, the ozone layer has started recovery due to decrease in emissions of ODS; it is explained that ozone layer is expected to recover by the middle of the 21st century, he said.
The phasing out of ODS has not only protected the ozone layer, but also contributed significantly to address the climate change, he informed.
Among others, programme officer Prabhat Das, Dillip Behera, Al Gupta, Brindaban Satpathy, Barda Prasanna Das, Ashutosh Debata and Rajdhani High School headmistress Swarnalata Ray spoke.