Environment Minister, T.P.M. Mohideen Khan goes through the models at the ‘Save to be saved’ contest organised at the Chamber Trade Fair in Madurai

The efforts of students is vital in the campaign against abuse of plastic as they can convince their parents and the society to shun plastic bags, said T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, Minister for Environment.

He was in Madurai to distribute prizes in the ‘Save to be Saved’ competition for school children organised by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of its Chamber Trade Fair in Tamukkam Ground on Wednesday. The contest was meant to promote conservation of water, electricity, food and fuel with models furthering this purpose being kept on display at a separate enclosure from December 25 to 30.

The Minister lauded the Chamber’s initiative in the conservation of resources. He expressed delight in the scientific acumen exhibited by the students and praised their visionary approach to the issue of conservation. Addressing the chamber office-bearers concern in the delay in environmental clearance, he said that a pilot approach of single-window clearance was being implemented at Chennai.

The Chamber president V. Neethi Mohan said that these four resources were finite and had the potential to ignite wars among nations. It was imperative that India conserved these resources for her future economic prosperity as the country had only limited quantities of these resources. He said that 90 models were kept on display at the expo with 200 students from 27 schools taking part in the contest. Rain water harvesting systems, effective use of electricity, recycling of water and very tall wind mills were some of the topics touched upon by students.