CCHHEENNNNAAII RRIIVVEERRSS RREESSTTOORRAATTIIOONN TTRRUUSSTT (A Trust wholly owned by Government of Tamil Nadu)

Report on World Env i ronment Day-2016

“Exhibition on the Eco-Restoration Activities of the Rivers Restoration Trust”

Conducted on 6th to 8th June, 2016 At Adyar Eco-Park, Chennai

World Environment Day-2016

About CRRT The Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust as a government trust is implementing eco-restoration projects with an initiative to restore the waterways and water-bodies of Chennai and also established an eco-park in order to inculcate knowledge on environmental importance and persistence of the eco-restored activities for long term sustainability.

Considering this, the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust has also celebrating various ecological significance days such as World Wetland Day, World Biodiversity Day, World Habitat Day etc., as part of environment education and awareness.

World Environment Day Objectives of the WED 2016- (WED)-2016 Exhibition

The World Environment Day To promote wider awareness about (WED) is an International Day of the various restoration initiatives of celebration commemorated on every the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust. year to honour the importance of environmental protection and it is one To disseminate information about of the principles of vehicles to stimulate the efforts taken by the government the worldwide awareness of the to restore the degraded systems of

environment to general public and rivers, waterways and water-bodies students to enhance attention and of Chennai. action taken to protect our To create awareness about the environment. ecological significance of rivers and inland wetland systems in and

This year, the Chennai Rivers around Chennai. Restoration Trust commemorated the To self motive the public to “World Environment Day-2016” by understand the value of riverine organizing an exhibition highlighting systems and their participation in the eco-restoration activities initiated protecting the neighbourhood water

and implemented by the Chennai resources. th Rivers Restoration Trust from June 6 To ensure the stakeholders support th to 8 , 2016 at Adyar Eco-Park, Chennai. and participation in the river

restoration initiatives.

Exhibition on the Eco-Restoratio n Activities of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT)

On 6th June, 2016, The World Environment Day-2016 Event at Adyar Eco-park was presided over by

Thiru. K. Phanindra Reddy, I.A.S., Principal Secretary / Member Secretary of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust.

Dr. V. Kalaiarasan, Project Officer of CRRT welcomed Officials from Line departments, TNUIFSL, Local community members, school children and environment enthusiasts for the event.

World Environment Day Pledge

The World Environment Day-2016 Exhibition was opened to visitors and the event started with the Environment Day Pledge administered by Thiru. K. Phanindra Reddy, I.A.S., Principal Secretary / Member Secretary of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust.

Students, Environment Enthusiasts, Local Residents, General Public, TNUIFSL Officials, CRRT Staff and Adyar Eco-Park Workers participated in the event. More than 1200 responsible citizens have pledged their support for protection and restoration of Water Resources on the mother earth.

World Environment Day Pledge

Exhibition on Eco-Restoration Initaitives of CRRT

Thiru. K. Phanindra Reddy, I.A.S., Principal Secretary / Member

Secretary of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust had visited the

Exhibition on the Eco-Restoration

Initiatives taken up by the CRRT and urged the students’ community to utilize this opportunity to know their water resources in the city and need for its restoration and protection.

The one day Exhibition organised as a part of WED 2016 celebration has been extended to three days to provide opportunity for citizens and especially to school children. Adyar Eco-Park workers and local communities have actively participated in the event.

School Children visiting Exhibition

In the Exhibition, Display Panels containing information on various restoration initiatives being implemented by the CRRT had been installed.

Major initiatives like Adyar Eco- Park, Restoration of Adyar Creek and

Estuary and River Cooum, Preparation of Detailed Project Report and Master Plan for Adyar, Lakes and Water ways are covered in the exhibition.

Orientation on CRRT and its restoration initiatives were briefed to students.

CRRT Officials have explained the restoration various projects being

implemented to the visitors.

On Spot Competition on Water Resources

Quiz Competition

To Self assess the knowledge level on the existing water resources in Chennai, on spot Quiz competition was conducted to school children and general public. Quiz questionnaire consists of 10 questions on rivers, lakes, waterways in Chennai was prepared and circulated to the visitors. Answers were evaluated by the CRRT Officials and eco-friendly gifts were instantly given to the winners.

More than 1200 people including general public, school and college students enthusiastically participated in the Competition during three days event and nearly 200 prizes were presented.

A total of 910 students belong to Chennai Higher Secondary School in Chennai managed by the Greater Chennai Corporation under School Education Department had visited the Three Day Exhibition on the Restoration Initiatives being implemented by CRRT.

School children from Chennai Higher Secondary Schools were safely transported by chartered trips to visit the Exhibition and refreshments also provided to all participants.

Chartered trips were organised to Details of Schools visited the Exhibition

Total Sl. No. of School Boys Girls No. of No. Teachers Students Rani Meyyammai Higher 1. Secondary School, Raja 2 0 26 26 Annamalai Puram Chennai Higher Secondary 2. 3 55 46 101 School, Chennai Higher Secondary 3. 2 45 35 80 School, (EM) Chennai Higher Secondary 4. 4 49 39 88 School, Kamaraj Avenue, Adyar Chennai Higher Secondary 5. 2 29 43 72 School, Tharamani Chennai Higher Secondary 6. 2 45 36 81 School, Thiruvanmiyur Chennai Higher Secondary 7. School, Canal Bank Road, Raja 2 23 22 45 Annamalai Puram Chennai Higher Secondary 8. 2 58 33 91 School, Thiruvanmiyur Chennai Higher Secondary 9. 3 35 27 62 School, Tharamani Chennai Higher Secondary 10. 4 49 42 91 School, Kamaraj Avenue, Adyar Chennai Higher Secondary 11. 2 36 32 68 School, Tharamani Chennai Higher Secondary 12. 3 55 50 105 School, Thiruvanmiyur

Total No. of Participants 29 479 431 910

General Public visiting Exhibition

No. of Total No. of No. of General Day Date Teache No. of Schools Students Public rs Visitors One 6th June, 2016 1 26 2 120 149 Two 7th June, 2016 6 467 15 105 593 Three 8th June, 2016 6 417 14 70 507 Total No. of Visitors 13 910 31 295 1249

The Exhibition has created an opportunity to highlight and sensitize the larger masses especially the local communities and school children to understand the valuable water resources existing in their own city. It has depicted the various restoration initiatives taken by CRRT viz., Adyar Eco-Park, Restoration of Adyar Creek and Estuary, Restoration of and Preparation of Master Plans for Restoration of River

Adyar, Lakes, and Waterways in Chennai Metropolitan Area.

This year, the World Environment Day 2016 Exhibition at Adyar Eco-Park had sensitized more than 1200 citizens including General public, School and College Students.

World Environment Day – 2016 Exhibition Event in Newspapers

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