The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) celebrated the ‘World Ozone Day’, the United Nations’ International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone, in the university campus.
A university communiqué informed that the celebrations focused on sensitising farmers of the Kharakhet, Thangaon, Dhaklani, Masraj patti and Sherpura villages situated in the vicinity of the university through awareness activities on topics related to climate change, ozone depletion and tips on improvement of farming activities with the active participation of the university students.
Assistant professor, School of Engineering, Abhishek Nandan said that the celebrations, conducted under the aegis of the ‘Department of Health, Safety and Environment’ UPES were organised by ‘Green Up’, a student-led group and witnessed active participation of over 1000 students of the university.
The events included spreading awareness about the climatic conditions, irrigation facilities, crop rotation, and depletion of soil fertility due to usage of chemicals, proper usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Government policies, bank loans, subsidiaries, snake-bite and its first aid amongst the farmers.
Nandan said that the farming community appreciated the knowledge on the use of pesticides and its effect towards environment pollution and their personal health while thanking UPES for distribution of free personal protective equipment amongst them.
The World Ozone Day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas which protects the human health and ecosystem by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun's rays from reaching the earth.