KCCS, US based EcoSikh sign MoU on Environment Protection, Plantation

  by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)

AMRITSAR, JUNE 21

The historic Khalsa College Charitable Society (KCCS) and US-based EcoSikh, an NGO working for environment protection worldwide today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly implement `Eco-Amritsar Initiative’, meant to green the `holy city’. The MoU, signed between KCCS honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and EcoSikh Chief Dr. Rajwant Singh, envisages plantations, audit water and energy to make Amritsar a `green city’.

 KCCS Joint Secretary and Chairperson WWF Punjab Gunbir Singh, who was present during the signing of the MoU, lauded the partnership to protect the environment. Dr. Rajwant said the MoU was part of EcoSikh’s initiative to move Amritsar towards the path of sustainability as per city’s commitments to international Green Pilgrim City efforts, launched recently in Assisi (Italy).

 The KCCS, which runs conglomerate of 18 educational institutions including prestigious Khalsa College, would provide support, skill and resources to mobilize civil society to improve environmental capacity through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction and public engagements, said Chhina.

 Gunbir Singh added that the two parties will pilot the city’s Green Mapping Project. He further said that the Khalsa College and other institutions would earmark 10 per cent of campuses’ lands to organic agriculture, will set up `pilot pond’ as part of rain-harvesting, plant `Ber’ (Zizyphus Jujuba) trees among other native species, audit water and energy in all their buildings. Chhina earlier said that they would provide interns to EcoSikh and would ensure that at least 10 per cent of total energy used in institutions’ hostels is derrived from Solar power.

 Chhina said they were proud to have Diaspora joining hands with them and they would not only first make their educational institutions green by planting trees and conserving energy but they would also provide all necessary assistance to EcoSikh to make the city beautiful and green.  He assured that MoU will not just remain on the papers but each party shall nominate a `principal contact’ in order to facilitate the MOU. EcoSikh’s India Manager Ravneet Singh was present at the occasion.