Koraput: A special online lecture on ‘COVID 19- Global Lockdown- Environmental Protection’ on 20 July 2020 was organized by the Dept. of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Odisha, Koraput. Inaugurating the online seminar Vice–Chancellor Prof. I. Ramabrahmam said “although COVID- 19 has created tremendous adverse pressure on the system of governance, and all normal processes have come to a halt, Corona warriors like doctors and medical staffs, police and bureaucrats, however, have effectively managed the situation created by the pandemic”. He praised the exemplary leadership given by our Prime Minister and HRD Minister for effectively managing and leading the country in this hour of crisis. Highlighting the role of students, parents and citizens, he called upon the teachers to develop a module on COVID disaster and lessons to be learnt by Educational Institutions.
The Special lecture was delivered by Prof. M.N.V. Prasad, eminent scientist and Emeritus Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad. In his lecture he said that the COVID-19 is no doubt a dark cloud but it has a silver lining. It has done enough good to our environment. The pollution load has tremendously decreased in the last three months all over the globe, waters of the dirty and polluted rivers has become clean, skies are clear during the global lock down. He described the Corona virus is Earth’s vaccine and we are the virus. Citing different published literature and information from NASA he said that there is a massive reduction of greenhouse gas emission during lock down. In this gloomy and doomy scenario, there is a silver lining that Mother Earth seems to have rejuvenated itself, marine life is seeing increased activity, pollution levels dropped, animals and birds are moving about in their own accord. Answering a question whether this improvement during lockdown is sustainable or not, Prof. Prasad said it can only be sustainable provided that mankind is educated with zero illiteracy. He was of the view that development is science and technology based not GDP based which are among the UN 17 sustainable development goals.
The seminar also discussed new focus areas like rebalancing of economy, overhauling of urban planning, rethinking on hospital and waste management, green building concept as well as more of digital lifestyle created due to pandemic. The online seminar was largely attended by students, research scholars and academicians from Odisha and outside. Prof. S.K. Palita, Professor and Head, Convener of the Seminar delivered the welcome address, while Dr. Debabarta Panda coordinated the question answer session. Dr. Kakoli Banerjee summed up the outcome of the seminar and gave a vote of thanks.
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