Mysuru: ZP CEO P. Shivashankar presented the district-level ‘Parisara Mitra’ School award to Bettadabeedu Upgraded Government Higher Primary School in H.D. Kote taluk at a programme organised under the joint aegis of District Administration, ZP, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Janajagruthi Grameena Abhivruddhi Samsthe at Town Hall here yesterday.

The award carried a cash prize of Rs. 30,000. Also ten Government Schools of the district were conferred ‘Green School’ tag (cash prize Rs. 5,000), while ten other schools were conferred ‘yellow school’ tag (cash prize Rs. 5,000), Green School winners – Government Higher Primary Schools at Chilakahalli (Nanjangud), Ankanahalli (T. Narasipur), Chilkunda (Hunsur), Udbur Shed (H.D. Kote) Maratikyatanahalli, Kiralu and Sajjehundi (Mysuru) and Katnal, Vaddarahalli and Chikkavaddaragudi (K.R. Nagar). Yellow school winners- Government Schools at Kergalli and Nazarbad in city, Hosahundi (Mysuru), Kanchinakere and Lakkikuppe (K.R. Nagar), Rangasamudra (K.R. Nagar), Periyapatna, Devagalli (Hunsur), Jompanahalli (H.D.Kote) and Hallare (Nanjangud).

Speaking after presenting the award and prizes Shivashankar said that it was extremely difficult to take along development and nature as development, in most cases, takes place at the cost of nature. Stressing on the need for conserving nature, ecology and environment, he said “nature provides us raw materials. But after exploring natural resources, we give very little back to the nature” and called for continuous efforts to restore the balance of nature for the benefit of mankind.

KSPCB Member M. Venkataram released a book ‘Kanasu-Nanasu’ brought out by the KSPCB on the occasion. KSPCB officials A. Uday Kumar, B.M. Prakash, U.G. Yatish and B.P. Geetha, DPI official Bhagyavathi, Jana Jagruti Samsthe’s V.N. Murthy, Bettada Beedu School Headmaster Raju Thimmanna Naik and others were present.

Bettadabeedu School was selected for the award for its sustained efforts to promote green cover by growing vegetables and greens that are used for mid-day meal scheme and distribution among the poor from surrounding villages. The school has also excelled in waste collection and segregation and generation of compost. The school also has a good number of coconut and other fruit yielding plants.