ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND GREEN PROTOCOL
Humans have played a big role in the drastic change in the earth’s climate over the last century, and scientists predict catastrophic problems if climate change goes unchecked. Higher education institutions have a very unique role in environmental protection: they help students become conscientious advocates for the environment, protecting it for themselves and generations to come. The college has constituted an Environment Conservation and Green Protocol Committee that strives to educate and inspire students on environmental issues, equipping them to make informed choices about the impact of their (and others) actions on the environment. The institution contributes to the State Government’s HarithaKeralam Mission initiated in 2016, by implementing the Green Protocol and engaging in curricular and non-curricular activities aimed at effective waste management, environment conservation and sustainability.
Scope
The policy shall delineate the environment protection activities of the college, and shall be relevant to all stakeholders- students, teachers, administrative staff, parents, management and local neighbourhood.
Custodian of the Policy
Environment Conservation Committee and Green Protocol Committee shall undertake the responsibility of implementing the policy, and shall coordinate its activities with the various departments, NCC, NSS, clubs and committees, under the leadership of the Principal and assistance of the management.
Objectives
- To ensure sustainable practices in campus, assuring acceptable air, water and soil quality in and around the campus
- To improve cleanliness in and around the campus through eco-friendly waste management system and sanitation scheme.
- To promote the concept of 3 R’s- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle- among students, staff and local neighbourhood.
- To instil in students the awareness of the bio-diversity in the neighbourhood and the responsibility to conserve and protect the environment.
Policy
- Environment Friendly Activities
- The institution shall nurture a medicinal garden and a herbal garden, both with indigenous medicinal herbs and shrubs with benefits proven in Ayurveda.
- A fruit garden shall be grown in the campus, with local fruit trees suitable for the soil.
- The ‘Star Tree Grove’ in the campus, a rare collection of 27 trees that are astrologically assigned to the different star signs, shall be nurtured and conserved with care.
- Organic farming shall be done by the National Service Scheme as a motivation and inspiration to students and the local community to participate in activities designed for sustainability.
- Environment Conservation
- Boundary walls shall be built and maintained around the trees in the Star Tree Grove.
- Recycling and reuse of water shall be encouraged.
- Rain water harvesting will be implemented, and the recycled water shall be used for laboratory and irrigation purposes.
- Soil erosion shall be minimised by planting of trees, and quality of soil shall be maintained.
- Planting of trees and nurture of existing flora shall be encouraged.
- Energy audit will be done annually to evaluate and improve energy consumption status of the institution.
- Green Protocol
- Use of vehicles inside the campus will be restricted to maintain carbon neutrality.
- Students shall not be allowed to bring their vehicles inside, and are expected to avail the parking space near the gate.
- A systematic waste management system shall be implemented in which wastes are collected, segregated, recycled or disposed suitably, without harm to the environment. Incinerator, biogas plants and waste segregation bins shall be used for the purpose.
- Separate Bins shall be provided in the campus to segregate and collect food waste and non biodegradable waste material.
- Use of reusable food containers instead of paper and plastic will be made mandatory.
- Use of plastic in any form shall be banned inside the campus.
- Use of flex banners and plastic decorations during programmes and celebrations shall not be permitted.
- Water bottle refill stations shall be installed inside the campus to reduce the careless disposal of plastic water bottles.