This meeting was the follow up of Vice-Chancellor, Professor DP Singh attending a workshop meeting at Rashtrapati Bhawan regarding ‘Roshni’ initiative promulgated by the President of India and being implemented successfully at Rashtrapti Bhawan Estate, where over 7000 people live under this programme of sustainable urban habitat through eco-friendly efforts.
Due to the initiative Rashtrapati Bhawan has been awarded ISO 14001 certificate. BHU has constituted an advisory committee under chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor and six Task Groups to achieve these targets. They are: Task Group for solid waste management; Task Group for liquid waste and water conservation including rain water harvesting; Task Group for biodiversity conservation; Task Group on plantation; Task Group for energy audit and energy conservation and use of renewable energy sources including solar energy, biogas etc. and Task Group for stake holder participation.
Vice-Chancellor Professor DP Singh gave a brief background and benefits of Roshni initiative at Rashtrapati Bhawan due to which a concept of recycle, reduce and reuse is being implemented which is helping better disposal of waste, cut down in the use of chemical fertiliser, encourage use of bio-fertiliser, better disposal of waste, improvement in water table, better disposal of biomedical waste, use of battery operated and hydrogen operated vehicle in the campus, use of more solar energy, automatic switch off of light lamp to save electric energy etc.
The various chairman of Task Group presented their point of view to be taken up for action plan in coming days. It was decided a working plan will be prepared by each of Task Group by end of July, 2011 and this working plan will be converted into proposal detailing about financial component, manpower involvement, stake holder involvement, possible collaboration to achieve these targets of each group in the targeted frame work of time.
Dr Singh suggested that the university has to implement the proposed plan in action within a frame work of 2 years and it will apply and target to obtain ISO 14001 within 2 years period.
Vice-Chancellor especially emphasized that the different Task Group will ensure involvement of students, teachers, their families, self help groups and whole community in the initiative of BHU Sustainable Campus.
The issues like creation of biodiversity park, vermi composting, disposal of medical and other waste, horticultural waste, floral waste of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, kitchen waste of residences and hostels, planned plantation in BHU to replace ageing trees, roadmap for long time biodiversity conservation, butterfly park, multicultural planting, ayurvedic medicinal botanical garden etc were discussed in detail.
The meeting was attended by all the chairman, convener and members of Task Groups, Rector, Directors of Institutes, Principal of Mahilmahavidyalaya, Dean of Faculty of Science, Registrar, Finance Officer, Superintending Engineer, Professor Incharge of Horticulture Unit, Chief Proctor, Dean of Student, Director, Academic Staff College and Chairman of Press Publication and Publicity Cell.
