The Punjab State Council for Science & Technology and Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi in collaboration with the Department of Environment, UT are organizing an Environment & Wildlife Film Festival titled 'Chandigarh CMS VATAVARAN 2006.'

Inaugurating the festival Mrs. Romila Dubey, Principal Secretary to Govt. of Punjab, Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment and Non-conventional Energy said that no government could address the issue of environmental conservation alone. It could, at best be a catalyst. It was, therefore, up to the citizen to take action for safeguarding their environment. Festivals like this could be effective instruments of change making process.

Ms. P.N. Vasanti, Director, Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi emphasized upon the commitment to spread environmental awareness to every nook and corner of the country. She added that CMS VATAVARAN Traveling Festival is an effort in that direction. Apart from the festival here at Chandigarh, it will be organized in seven more cities this year. The festival has also gone international with Abu Dhabhi, UAE CMS VATAVARAN in 2006.

Dr. N.S. Tiwana, Executive Director, PSCST said that it is the first time that such a film festival is being organized in Chandigarh. In his remarks he discussed some leading examples of people's actions for conservation of the environment where people themselves have been able to make a change in the society. He mentioned the contributions of the Bishnois of Panjab and efforts by many NGOs in this direction.

Mr. Ishwar Singh, Director, Deptt. of Environment, U.T., Chandigarh reiterated that though Chandigarh was a pioneer architecturally planned city, such festivals could be a driving force for retaining and enhancing its environment friendly character.

Veteran Environment Film Maker Mr. Sanjay Barnela as well as two Environment Filmmakers from the city, Mr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Jeesu Jaskanwar Singh were felicitated at the occasion.

The festival was flagged off with the inaugural film 'Hunting Down Water' by Sanjay Barnela and Vasant Saberwal. It underlines the important issue of have and have nots and how the concerns like, accessibility, availability and affordability of water are related to this.

The festival has a host of activities such as Film Bazaar, Photography exhibition and discussions with eminent filmmakers. Film Bazaar will provide an opportunity to people to buy exclusive and intriguing CMS VATAVARAN films. The Photography exhibition will showcase some exciting photographs on environment and wildlife by photographers from Chandigarh and Punjab.

The festival will continue on 24th and 25th August also where special screenings will be organized for school students in the morning and for college students and general public in the evenings respectively. A Symposium on Agriculture and Environment with a focus on the impact of green revolution on the environment of Punjab is being organized on 24th August afternoon. The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of senior officers from the governments of Punjab and UT, Principals and teachers from schools and colleges, academicians from the university and leading research organizations as well as the general public.

About Organisers:

Centre for Media Studies (CMS) is a premier research and advocacy organization working in the area of health, education, environment, communication and development. The environment division of CMS, through its research endeavors, reviews the effectiveness of the environment protection and communication efforts by the development agencies and the Government. It believes children are the harbingers of positive change and if young minds are given an opportunity and a platform to translate their creativity and thoughts on celluloid it can work wonders.

Punjab State Council for Science & Technology is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Punjab. The council endeavors to harness the potential of science & technology as an instrument of socio-economic change and environment improvement. The council acts as a technical secretariat for the State Department of Science, Technology & Environment with focus on the following areas: Environment; Science Popularisation; Biotechnology; Industrial Pollution Control; Water Resource Management.

The Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration, UT was established with the aim of creating awareness of environment issues among the residents of Chandigarh and conserve and protect the natural resources and to prevent environment degradation in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.