NKDA hands over ID badges, certificates to eco-ambassadors

Kolkata: New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) on Sunday handed over identity badges and certificates to 10 eco-ambassadors, who have been selected to create awareness among the people to conserve water and other environmental issues as part of the green city mission.

"These eco-ambassadors will be trained and they will spread the awareness message about recycling waste, rainwater harvesting, rooftop farming and similar green initiatives," said Debashis Sen, chairman of NKDA. The eco-ambassadors were handed over a prize money of Rs 1,000 each at a programme held in front of the replica of Taj Mahal in Eco Park.

It may be mentioned that the eco-ambassadors have been selected through a lottery that was held at Rabindra Tirtha recently.

New Town is being developed as a solar city and a second solar canal-top project (1,000 KWp) is being conceived in collaboration with Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, the first one being a 500 KWp unit near Eco Park.

"We are also planning to become a Green, Clean and Tech City and so, we have decided to involve the citizens and to create awareness on what they can do at their individual levels like segregation and recycling, composting and rooftop/balcony farming, rainwater harvesting, etc.," a senior NKDA official said.

This is the first time when a state government agency will be training residents to create awareness on environment protection.