BGSB University: Securing Greener Future; Preserves sustainable environmental footprint

Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University is located at the foothills of the great Himalayan Pir Panjal range. The University campus is located at a distance of approximately 8 km from the main city Rajouri. The University campus exhibits marvelous altitudinal, topographic and edaphic diversity. Climate and vegetation of the area is sub-tropical to sub-temperate type. The area of the campus is largely hilly and exhibits a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Under the Stewart leadership of Prof. Akbar Masood, Vice Chancellor of the University the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University during the last three years has taken up various initiatives including plantation drives, biodiversity conservation and water harvesting in the University campus to promote eco-friendly practices and reduce carbon footprint.The objective of these initiatives is to promote environmental awareness among students, staff, and faculty and to encourage community involvement in environmental conservation. These initiatives aim to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, support campus wildlife and biodiversity, creating a serene and eco-friendly campus environment and to inspire students to become environmental stewards.
Towards the accomplishment of the ‘Green and Clean Campus’ and To create mass awareness among people about the importance of ecological balance for better environment and healthy living, the BGSB University has organized many plantation drives in the campus in collaboration with various Government Departments. Last year, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Akbar Masood launched a special plantation drive on the campus by the women folks including female teachers, staff, scholars and students. The programme aimed at highlighting the crucial interconnection between humans and nature, making the plants an inseparable part of the “family consciousness”, leading to environmental protection and women empowerment. Each woman member among the teaching and non teaching faculty of the University took the responsibility of planting one sapling which they planted in the open spaces around their respective departments / residential area and other designated spaces in the campus. The University also organized plantation drives such as ‘ek ped shaheed ke naam’ and ‘ek ped maa ke naam’ in the campus. This year , the Vice Chancellor launched a mega plantation drive was to celebrate the birthday of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in which students , faculty and staff of the University participated. Moreover, as a part of Independence Day celebrations a two week plantation drive was launched by the Vice Chancellor in the campus involving the students, faculty and staff of the University. Around 20,000 saplings of various species have been planted during the last three years.
The topography of BGSB University campus is conducive for effective rain water harvesting. The ecosystem, so unique to the campus,further enriches prospects for it by arresting excess rain water flow during monsoon season. Depth ins have been dug and drain outlets constructed to channelize and regulate the speedy flow of rain water so as to carry it in fullness to the harvesting system.
The creation of the harvesting system where the rain water is collected from multiple points on the campus represents a major sustainability initiative of BGSBUniversity. This water is used as the source of drinking water for wildlife inhabiting the campus. The harvesting water comes in handy for gardening and cleaning requirements. Rain water harvesting is contributing to the promotion of bio-diversity at the University.
University Campus harbours various species of both flora and fauna. Therefore, the University considers that it is its social, moral, and legal responsibility to make the campus a safe haven for all flora and fauna. The
University celebrates World Animal Day every year through the organisation of activities which promote the welfare of animals. Awareness programmes, Workshops, Seminars and Conferences are organised every year for involving the youth towards wildlife conservation and management. The infrastructure of the University is built in an eco-sensitive manner taking into account the natural landscape and the environment in order to protect and live in harmony with the wild flora and fauna. The University conducts Plantation Drives (planting of saplings which are native to the area) within the Campus to increase the forest cover. The University collaborates with external agencies to equip the members of the faculty, staff and student community to understand the conservation importance of Wildlife.
Under the leadership of Prof. Akbar Masood, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University is committed to advancing sustainability and fighting climate change by continuously working to decrease the environmental footprint.