Bhubaneswar,4th October 2024: Binayak Rath, the former vice-chancellor of Utkal University, received the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) for his significant contributions to environmental protection. The award was presented during the society’s 43rd foundation day and award ceremony held on Sunday.
Alongside Rath, several other distinguished individuals were recognized for their efforts in environmental conservation. Virendra Pratap Upadhyay, a former adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), was awarded the ‘Environmental Excellence Award.’ Additionally, Ajay Kumar Patra, the former head of Zoology at Utkal University, received the ‘Environment and Science Popularisation Award.’
The ceremony also honored Bivash Pandav from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun with the ‘Nature Conservation Award.’ Furthermore, Sharat Kumar Palita, VP Upadhyay, Navin Kumar Dhal, and Pushpanjali Parida were recognized as ‘OES Fellows’ for their notable contributions to environmental causes. Krishna Chandra Sahu, a former professor at IIT Bombay, along with professors Pushpanjali Parida, Parshuram Panda, and Tapas Ranjan Mallick, were conferred the title of ‘Patrons of OES.’
The event was presided over by Sundara Narayana Patro, president of OES, and featured former IAS officer and OPSC chairman Vivekananda Patnaik as the chief guest. Patnaik presented insights into the current state of the global environment, highlighting the decline in quality standards and the urgent need for sustainable practices.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Devidutta Biswal delivered the keynote address, titled the ‘Prasanna Kumar Dash Memorial Lecture,’ named after the founding president of OES. He provided an overview of Odisha’s forest and wildlife resources, emphasizing their importance in the context of environmental conservation.