Jamshedpur, July 28: Members of 350 NGOs today gathered at Telco Club for a programme to discuss environmental problems organised by Gram Vikas Parishad, an NGO supported by Tata Motors.

The inaugural session comprised songs based on environment and traditional lamp lighting. S.K. Sinha, the assistant general manager of Tata Motors, said: “Environment pollution is a cause of concern and these 350 NGOs have certainly contributed in lowering environmental pollution to a great extent.”

“Environment activity at the national-level is going on and this year the theme is climate change,” said a member of Gram Vikas Kendra.

Jayanti P. Datt, the secretary of Gram Vikas Kendra, was the chief speaker on the occasion. She discussed the prevalent and upcoming environmental hazards and spoke about the depleting ozone layer which is leading to global warming and unpredictable seasonal variations.

The NGOs present put forward their annual record of the work. The list of activities contained awareness camps, plantation of saplings and environmental rallies.

Appreciating the efforts of the organisations, the chief guest of the occasion, deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum Ravindra Agarwal said: “A considerable amount of activity has been carried out but the NGOs need to gear up to fight this evil to its end.”

The speakers talked about establishment of large factories which belch out smoke, fumes, harmful gases and hazardous waste affecting the environment. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) used in air conditioners and refrigerators deplete the ozone layer.

The NGOs were given some guidelines and inputs for formation of effective projects implementation.

A member of Gram Vikas Kendra C.R. Mahto said: “While the government is setting up enforcement wings to keep the environmental menace under check, it is our responsibility to lend a helping hand to them.”