Metro Plus
Faridabad, 11 June (Naveen Gupta): World Environment Day 2016 was celebrated by The Institution of Engineers India Faridabad Local Centre and Manav Rachna International University at MRIU Campus. In his address as Chairman of the Session, Mr. J.P. Malhotra, Imm. Past Chairman IEI FLC and President DLF Industries Association said that Sunday was the World Environment Day. A day well spent in academic seminars, sarkari functions and corporate social responsibility events. An average citizen had limited interest in this discourse, except for a few who joined a run or a tree-plantation drive.
“The environment is everything that isn’t me”, said Albert Einstein. Our long-term commitment may yet arrest the trend. According to Mr. J.P. Malhotra we need small meaningful steps every day of the year. Particularly in the city of Faridabad where the air is foul, energy is sourced from coal-fired plants, dumpsites are overfilled, and every third resident is living illegally on a stinking riverbed. With ground water level at an all-time low and depleting surface water resources, India needs water-harvesting plans to rescue millions from an arid future.
This Environment Day or week is perhaps as good as any to make a beginning, involve all of us responsible for the damage and explore how we can possibly make amends.
Thirsty India is heading for Crisis asserted Mr. Malhotra. 54% of India was water stressed, with scarcity affecting every part of the country except the Himalayan region and the Ghats. We have to become Water Wise. Almost 600 million people are at higher risk of surface water supply disruptions. With surface water sources dwindling, people have shifted to unregulated tapping of ground water – for agriculture and drinking – leading to levels dipping by three times over the last 60 years, making groundwater the main drinking water source for 80% of the population. Rising temperature also means greater human loss. Of the 4204 lives lost to annual heat waves over the past four years, half were in the drought year of 2015.
We need to conserve Power and Electricity. A little home improvement can reduce the dependence on air-conditioners. There are many ways to make our homes climate-friendly. To begin with, let’s look at the idea of cool roofs. White reflective coating on rooftops can bring down the temperature inside the building by 30% and help fight climate changes.
Air Pollution is yet a matter of concern for humanity. Recent WHO data said that out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world (observed out of the 3000), 10 are in India. Delhi is at number 11 and Gwalior and Allahabad are at number 2 and 3, respectively. Central Pollution Control Board’s data showed air pollution in smaller cities such as Gwalior, Allahabad, Kanpur, Jodhpur, Ludhiana and Bhopal has been rising at a much faster pace than in the big metros.
Let us pledge and learn to Make Life Less Disposable. To beat the waste-and-want dynamics, we need to reduce, recycle and reuse. To begin with, let’s start carrying cloth bags to grocery stores and non-disposable water bottles and mugs to work. For inspiration, look at Kerala. At all 29 venues during the National Games in February 2015 in Kerala, caterers were told not to use disposable bottles or tableware. Athletes were given steel flasks to refill and the trash generated at the Games was reduced by 120 tonnes than a gathering of such size normally would.
There is an urgent need of coordinated inter-agency efforts to address pollution at national and regional levels. Pollution does not recognize political boundaries, with polluted air travelling across long distances. Pollution is a national crisis, and demands a concerted national action plan in response. None of these are big demands and yet can make a difference with mass commitment. And if you are in the mood for more, don’t wait for the government to make you leave your car at home. Volunteer to use the public transport once a week. Make it a lifestyle statement in our city of cars.
According to Mr. J.P. Malhotra, we have to take steps to make life simple, reduce and regulate consumption. A day in India where 4896 cars, 40563 Two Wheelers, 24658 TV’s, 9315 AC’s, 19397 Refrigerators, 90,00,000 Beer Bottles are sold, a conscious and concerted approach and way forward needs to be formulated. That is why Green Tokenism or Celebrating a Day would not suffice. Let us strive to stir our souls to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Making Life Simple is one sure and specific way – said Mr. Malhotra, President DLF Industries Association.
