Date:13/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/13/stories/2008051352880300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Instilling awareness among public

M. Balaganessin

Minister Regupathy uses a bank inaugural function to drive home his message on global warming

Photo: M. Moorthy

RIGHT STEP: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy releasing a pamphlet on ’global warming’ received by Union Minister of Finance P. Chidambaram at Kuzhipirai village near Pudukottai on Monday. —

PUDUKOTTAI: A function to mark the inaugural of Indian Bank’s branch in Kuzhipirai in the district on Monday proved to be a rare opportunity for the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy, to create awareness among the masses on the ill-effects of global warming.

With the audience that included a large number of women members of self-help groups and villagers, listening to his address in rapt attention, the Minister outlined the impact of global warming caused due to the excess release of carbon-di-oxide.

“I have a great responsibility in protecting the environment through a sustained creation of awareness towards my goal among the masses,” he said.

He utilised the occasion to release a pamphlet titled ‘Global warming – threats and solutions’ by Union Minister of Finance P. Chidambaram.

The pamphlet, brought out by the Indian Bank as part of its contribution to conservation of environment, brought out the importance of planting saplings and setting up of a single-control switch for operating various electrical gadgets. It also urged the people to reduce the use of refrigerator.

The threats, among other things, explained the formation of excessive heat waves, serious gales and incidence of diseases injurious to human health.

A scramble among those present to get a copy of the pamphlet was, obviously, inevitable.