World Earth Day celebrated across the city

BANGALORE: In an effort to create awareness on global warming and climate change, Geological Society Of India, in association with the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Centre for Human Resource Development organised a walkathon to celebrate World Earth Day on Sunday. More than 150 students from various schools across the state participated in the rally. Students raised slogans “Save Water, Save Air, Save Earth”. N R Raksha, a class 10 student from The Brigade School, said, “We only celebrate Earth Day every year. We should make every day an Earth Day and should work towards making our planet a better place to live.”A booklet, ‘Rainwater Harvesting and Groundwater Development in greater Bengaluru Region’, was released by noted environmentalist Y N Yellappa Reddy and R H Sawkar, secretary, Geological Society of India.In another event organised by Bharatiya Samaja Seva Trust at All Karnataka Children’s Association on the occasion of ‘World Earth Day’, children planted saplings. Jnanpith awardee Dr Chandrashekar Kambar, who planted sapling along with the children, said, “In the present scenario, we are exploiting earth for our own benefit. It is high time that we started saving our planet.”Shivamallu, founder of the trust, said, “These kind of events educate children on the effects of global warming and climate change. It will not be shocking if in the near future we would reach a stage where, we would need oxygen cylinders for breathing. To avert such disasters we should grow more trees.”