They have been divided into several groups and sub-groups with a specific activity
TIRUCHI : It was an interesting experience for the students of a few schools here when they got exposed to serious impact of air pollution, water contamination and food adulteration, at a day-long `Clean India Programme' sponsored by the Gandhigram Trust, Dindigul, in the city on Thursday.
A total of 120 students of Standards VIII and IX from three schools - National College Higher Secondary School, Teppakulam Bishop Heber HSS and Puthur Bishop Heber HSS - were not just passive listeners but proved to be active participants, seemingly realising their future responsibility to check the net impact — health hazard — on human race altogether.
The students were divided into several groups and sub-groups with a specific and vibrant activity. While a batch of students monitored the air pollution at the Main Guard Gate, the main commercial hub of the city, a survey of the number of light and heavy vehicles crossing the area was simultaneously done by another group for over four hours.
In the meantime, another group of students was busy collecting water samples at three sources — open well, borewell, and surface water of the Cauvery in the city.
The Project Co-ordinator of the Trust, G. Ramadoss, said steps would be taken to analyse the permissible limits of the air pollution by assessing the presence of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, suspended particles etc.
The water samples would be analysed on 12 parameters, including the content of chorides, flourides and other salts.
"We will send a report to the agencies like the Pollution Control Board and the Tiruchi City Corporation for their follow-up on remedial course of action, if necessary," Mr. Ramadoss said.
A theoretical session also formed part of the programme, when Mr. Ramadoss explained the need for creating an awareness among the masses of the impact of additives, chemicals in eateries on human health, especially in the functioning of the kidney.
The trust has been conducting the awareness programme among students in Karur and Dindigul districts also for the past few years.
