Awareness drive for preserving the ozone layer

School children along with the NGC carried out rallies in various parts of the city to spread awareness about the importance of ozone layer

National Green Corps (NGC) of the environment, forests, science and technology department, government of Telangana, on Tuesday, observed International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer. A seminar was conducted at Madapati Hanumantha Rao Girls High School, Narayanguda. The NGC along with the students organised umbrella rallies in six different locations in the city to instill awareness among people about the need to protect the ozone layer, as umbrellas were symbolic of the ozone layer. It was participated by over 1,500 students and teachers.

T Radhika, project officer, NGC, who organised the programme, said, “Earth without ozone is like a house without a roof. It plays an important role in stopping the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from reaching the earth's surface, by providing a protective shield for plant and animal life. This layer in the stratosphere has been depleting at a faster rate in recent years.”

“The harmful effects of ozone layer depletion include increased skin cancer, eye cataracts, suppression of the human immune system, damage natural ecosystems and adverse impact on aquatic life and climate change,” she added.

The rallies were conducted at Narayanguda, Himayathnagar, Tank Bund, Uppal, Bachupally and Santoshnagar.