Kargil, June 5, 2025: World Environment Day was celebrated today at Syed Mehdi Memorial Hall, Kargil today under the global theme “Ending Plastic Pollution” with participation of Government Departments, NGOs, school children and theatre artists.

The event was organized by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. The programme was supported by different line departments of the District including Tourism, Information, Education, HEAL-Ladakh (NGO), Ladakh Centre for Peace and Sustainable Development (NGO) and Downhill Kargil Adventure Sports Club.

Executive Councillor for Urban Development, LAHDC Kargil, Kacho Mohd Feroz, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The event began with a student rally from Bus Stand to the Auditorium Hall, holding placards promoting environmental protection, climate action, and sustainability.

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Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Imteeaz Kacho, Councillor Baroo-Minji, Adv. Khadim Hussain, Joint Director Finance/CCF, Iftikhar Hussain, Executive Officer MC Kargil, Arifa Iqbal Lone, District Social Welfare Officer, Sameena Khatoon, Headquarter Assistant to DC, Kaneez Fatima, AO to DC, as well as a large gathering of students, teachers, and local stakeholders attended the programme.

Addressing the gathering, EC Kacho Mohd Feroz said that signs of global warming are already visible in Ladakh, such as delayed snowfall. He urged everyone to transform the pledge of World Environment Day into everyday practice. “We must take responsibility and act today,” he said, while also calling for policy interventions and alternatives to plastic. He assured that LAHDC Kargil will work towards formulating a policy on plastic usage and lauded the organizers for their efforts to raise awareness.

ADC Kargil, Imteeaz Kacho, in his address, appealed for rejecting single-use plastics and appreciated the enthusiasm shown by students and other stakeholders towards the campaign for environmental conservation. He acknowledged the role of each participant in making the event a success.

Councillor Adv. Khadim Hussain introduced the history and relevance of World Environment Day, elaborating on various environmental protection acts. He stressed the need for effective implementation of these laws at the grassroots level.

In his inaugural speech, Divisional Forest Officer Kargil, Shakeel Ahmad, emphasized the growing pervasiveness of plastic pollution from the heights of Mount Everest to the depths of the ocean and stressed the importance of behavioral change in reducing plastic usage in daily life.

The Ranthak Theatre Group led by Ladakh Academy of Art Culture and Languages (LAACL) and Govt. Model Middle School Biathang presented compelling skit drama highlighting the excessive use of disposable plastics in events and social gatherings, particularly in Kargil.

The event also featured speech competitions among students, followed by distribution of gifts to student participants, sponsored by the Merchant Association Kargil and the Truck Union. In a commendable gesture, the Merchant Association also donated ₹20,000 to municipal sweepers as a token of appreciation for their services.

As a symbolic gesture followed with the presentation of plant saplings as a memento to the all the dignitaries. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks by the Wildlife Warden, Raza Ali Abidi.

The event proceedings were anchored in two sessions, the first by Farzana Parveen, PRO of HEAL, and the second by Dr. Anwar Tsarpa, AIO, DIPR, Ladakh, who briefed the audience about the pre-event campaign activities held in the run-up to World Environment Day.