Solan, 17 Jan : Vice Chancellors of 17 private universities of Himachal Pradesh met at Shoolini University here today under the aegis of Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HP-PERC), and jointly signed a Declaration for creating environmentally sustainable campuses.
Maj Gen Atul Kaushik (retd), Chairman of HP-PERC and the Chancellor of Shoolini University Prof. P.K. Khosla moved the declaration to work for zero-waste and zero-carbon universities in Himachal Pradesh through sensitization, awareness generation and role-modelling by managements and the faculty.
Maj Gen Atul Kaushik asked the participating universities to achieve zero-waste target in Himachal by 2025, since there is a dire need to bring about change in the mindset of the younger generation by demonstrating the lifestyle changes through personal example.
He also asked for the universities to introduce curriculum on environment studies and make it as a mandatory inter-disciplinary programme for every student.
Chairman HPPERC Maj. Gen. Atul Kaushik, Former Deputy Mayor Shimla Mr. Tikender Singh Panwar, Prof. RC Sobti, Vice Chancellors and representatives of 17 private universities attended this meet.
Mr. Lalit Jain, IAS, Director, DEST, in his keynote address lamented the devastating impact of the urbanization that has impacted our glacier cover, biodiversity and many rare species. He offered DEST help to all the universities to partner and help contain waste in which department shall help them out.
In his virtual address Lalit Jain Director DEST said we are losing glaciers which are our source of drinking water and we have also lost 60 species of animals due to environmental changes. He further said we need to cultivate habits in students and thorough training to save the environment. Mr. jain requested to the VC’s presented in the conference to have curriculum based on environment for all the students.
Former Deputy Mayor Shimla Mr. Tikender Singh Panwar talked about mobility and waste. Mr. Panwar said future survival is constructed on behavior change towards environment. He also emphasised to add course on environment and biodiversity.
Mej. Gen Atul kaushik said we need to change our behavior patterns and methods of daily routine to save our environment.
Prof. PK Khosla Chancellor Shoolini University stated that research is absolutely essential for universities (HP-PERC) and Shoolini can collaborate on research. He also speaks about zero-carbon consumption at Shoolini University campus.
Prof. Atul Khosla, Vice Chancellor, Shoolini University welcomed the guests and encouraged them to pledge not to use plastic and to work towards creating sustainable campuses in the state by taking suitable measures to protect the environment. He also emphasised the importance of planting trees and the use of the solar system as possible.
It is also declared in the conference that the Universities shall endeavour to create future infrastructure in their respective campuses which is environment-friendly and which does not have detrimental effect on the biodiversity, natural resources, and the general ecosystem.
