Green protocol for UT released

Initiative aimed at creating a healthy environment for campuses, communities

A Comprehensive Green Protocol (CGP) has been formulated to become a touchstone of sustainable development for the Union Territory.

The protocol condenses into a booklet the knowledge shared among a consortium of experts from organisations such as the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee, Pondicherry University and the Association for Promoting Sustainability in Campuses and Communities.

The brainstorming was held during a State-level awareness programme on Sustainable Waste Management – 2017-18, a 30-day campaign conducted across all four districts of the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The campaign mission was to evolve a green protocol against the backdrop of the ever-increasing shortage of natural resources and unsustainable waste management practices in the Union Territory. Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy released the protocol in the presence of Minister for Environment M. Kandasamy and Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor Gurmeet Singh.

S. Ganessin, Commissioner (Puducherry Municipality); Smitha, Director DSTE; M. Nandhivarman, programme lead; Ramesh, environmental engineer; Golda A. Edwin, APSCC executive director; Shahin Sultana, assistant dean, Pondicherry University and V. Muthu, president, Tamil Sangam participated.

According to a press note from the Pondicherry University, the ‘Comprehensive Green Protocol’ will serve as a guide for universities, colleges, schools, industries, tourism sector, hotels, hospitals and other organisations to carry forward the stated missions of the programme.

The CGP is also expected to guide all stakeholders to commit to environmental responsibility and sustainable development, thereby creating a healthy environment for the campuses and communities at large.

The principles for the green protocol was adopted partially from the UN Conference on Environment and Development called the Rio Declaration (1992) and Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030).

The CGP even includes a guide to implement and measure the result through factual means. The protocol was grouped under different heads such as: Water Management, Soil Conservation and Sustainable Food Production, Clean Air, Energy Conservation, Sustainable Management of Waste Resources and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.