State Must Progress Without Harming Environment: Electricity Minister

PALAKKAD:
Kerala must carry out intense nature conservation campaigns among children to ensure that the state’s developmental activities do not harm environment, Minister for Electricity K Krishnankutty said.

Laxity in green initiatives and unscientific approach towards protecting ecology amid economic progress will lead to an alarming situation, he said after giving away the state-level prizes of ‘OISCA Milma Green Quest 2022’ here on Saturday.

Environment awareness programmes as part of school syllabus will benefit children and influence their minds in the long run, the Minister noted at the function marking the conclusion of the quiz contest conducted by Japan-based environmental OISCA International (Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement) and Milma (the brand name of Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation).

A. Prabhakaran, MLA, presided over the function, where Milma Chairman K.S. Mani was the guest of honour at the event in Bharathamatha Higher Secondary School at suburban Chandra Nagar.

Siddharth Kumar Gopal and Nakul Syam team of St Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram, emerged first. The second prize went to K.P. Pooja Lakshmi and Abhinivesh of S.A.T.H.S, Manjeshwar.

Bharathamatha HSS Principal Fr. Philips Panakkal inaugurated the contest. Present on the occasion were OISCA President (South India) K.P. Aboobacker, Secretary M. Aravind Babu, Regional President P.V. Anoopkumar, OISCA Palakkad Women’s Chapter President Priya Venkatesh, Chief Coordinator P.K. Nalinakshan and OISCA Palakkad Chapter President K.R. Chandran.

OISCA Kerala Chapter Secretary Dr N. Sudhodanan and quiz master Sunil Devdatt were felicitated. OISCA Vice President (South India Chapter) Dr Parvathi Warrier welcomed the gathering while the organisation’s Palakkad District Secretary Lakshmisree proposed thanks.