Shimla, June 5, 2025 – On the occasion of World Environment Day, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu honoured eight individuals and institutions for their remarkable contributions to environmental conservation. In a grand felicitation ceremony held at Hotel Peterhof in Shimla, the Chief Minister presented the Environment Excellence Awards to promote and encourage eco-friendly practices across the state.
Awardees were presented with cash prizes of ₹50,000 for first and second prizes, and ₹25,000 for third prize in various categories ranging from academic institutions to eco-initiatives by industries and development offices.
In the educational institutions category, Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya (RKMV), Shimla clinched the top award. Other top winners included Nature Park Bakhli Devidhar, the JICA-supported Nachan Project, Pidilite Industries Ltd., Baddi, the Centre for Science Learning & Creativity under HIMCOSTE, Baddi, and the Block Development Office, Chopal. Second prize winners included Himalayan Research Group, Shimla, PM SHRI Model School Chauntra, Mandi, and Luminous Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Una.
Art and literary competitions also saw spirited participation from students across Himachal. In the junior painting category, Dhruv from Una, Aarohi from Chamba, and Nami from Hamirpur stood out, while in the senior category, Roshni from Shimla, Mehak Preet from Solan, and Ayush Negi from Kinnaur took the top honours.
The slogan writing competition highlighted the creativity of students such as Harshita from Solan and Diksha from Chamba. Similarly, schools with active eco-club participation were awarded, with GSSS Balkarupi, Kangra, Shivalik Valley Public School, Solan, and GSSS Ghumarwin, Bilaspur among the top scorers.
Photography talent was also recognized, with Abhinav from Jindal Vidya Mandir, Kinnaur securing first place. The debate competition reflected strong environmental advocacy, with Ishita from Kotla, Solan and Komal Mehta from Ghannahatti, Shimla leading the charge.
Under the Green School Programme initiated by the Science and Environment Centre, several institutions were awarded for their thematic achievements. Solan district was declared the Best Green District. Awards were also given for roles like Land Manager, Change Maker School, Energy Manager, Waste Warrior, Best New Entrant, and Water Conservation Champion across schools in Hamirpur, Shimla, and Solan districts.
Adding a digital edge to the state’s sustainability mission, Chief Minister Sukhu also launched the ‘Plastic Challenging’ mobile application, a pioneering tool aimed at digitizing environmental law enforcement. The app enables officers from 13 departments to issue digital challans, replacing paper-based processes and promoting greener governance.
The Chief Minister praised students, educators, and institutions for creating greater awareness about nature conservation and inspiring change through action. He emphasized that community-driven, technology-aided initiatives are vital to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future for Himachal Pradesh.
This is a web-generated premium news story.
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