Environmental Protection Key to Sustainable Future: Rammohan Naidu

Srikakulam: Emphasising that environmental conservation is a collective social responsibility, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu called upon citizens to work together towards building a pollution-free society.

As part of the World Environment Day celebrations organised by the Srikakulam Municipal Corporation on Friday, the union minister inaugurated a digital display board of the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) costing Rs 1 crore to monitor real-time pollution levels in the city.

The newly installed Air Quality Index (AQI) will help residents monitor dust, smoke, and air pollution levels in real time. Those present on the occasion included Srikakulam MLA Gondu Shankar and Srikakulam district collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar.

Later, Rammohan Naidu personally rode a bicycle while participating in a major bicycle procession from the Municipal Corporation office to Jyotirao Phule BC Welfare Residential School at Peddapadu to promote environmental protection and sustainable transport.

The minister said these initiatives are aimed at preserving nature and ensuring a cleaner future. He urged citizens to actively participate in environmental protection, drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “My Nation, My Responsibility.” He highlighted the success of the Swachh Bharat campaign over the past 12 years.

Rammohan Naidu recalled Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s call for cycling as a means to reduce pollution and save fuel. He went on to ask families to plant a tree in the name of their mothers on every auspicious occasion to promote environmental protection. Announcing a district-wide plantation drive, he said their target is to plant at least 15,000 saplings in phases.

Calling for a plastic-free Andhra Pradesh, the minister urged people to follow the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. He announced plans to develop 59 schools in the district as “Net Zero Schools” with regard to energy consumption to enhance environmental awareness among students.