Group Captain SS Puri, In Concern with degradation of Ecology and Environment in Kashmir Valley, directed the Institute to take initiatives and started organizing environment awareness camps, not only in the state but on invitation, elsewhere in the country. Impressed with the Institute endeavors in this field the Ministry of Environment & Forests Govt. of India bestowed the coveted National environment award "Indira Priyadarshini Vriksh Mitra Award" to the Institute in 2002.