Year 2100… Imagine a scene like this. A young dad, using AI (Artificial Intelligence) shows a forest scene to his kid. The kid doesn’t understand and so he plans to take her by a supersonic aircraft to Singapore museum to show the tropical rainforests. Perhaps this may become a reality even before 2100. Yes, the last nail has been fixed on the coffin as the Forest Conservation Amendment (FCA) bill is passed in the Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session (July 2023) without discussion. It is another matter that the sessions were washed out due to uproar on Manipur issue. Earlier, the environmental activists took to social media platform against amendments and had gone for a signature campaign. The bone of contention is

1. 15% of Indian forests will disappear overnight  
2. Especially the biodiversity hotspots in North East and Uttarakhand would be lost for strategic projects.
3. Drilling for natural gases and oil can take place in forests
4. Forests can be replaced by zoos, safaris and eco-tourism
5. Environmental clearances will be gone for most projects
6. The forest dwelling tribes can be put to risk

It is feared that 197,159 sq. km of forests (15% of existing forest cover) will lose protection, leaving it open for destruction. Forest lands within 100 kms of the borders are going to be used for strategic linear projects of national importance. Our border areas are extending from Gujrat to north eastern states through Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. India is one of the 17 global biodiversity countries which is under tremendous pressure because of this amendment. Blanket permission is given for drilling the affected areas for extraction of natural gas and oil. Wild animals will lose their natural homes. They may be required to live in cages, if the bill is passed. Why animals, even tribals will lose their dwelling places.

The joint parliamentary committee does not include experts. Instead, the bill should have been given to Parliamentary Standing Committee for Science & Technology, Environment and Forests for review. When Public opinion was sought, about 1200 objections and suggestions were made by NGOs and experts. But none of them were considered. Instead, the bill has reached the hands of the JPC without any discussion. With the absolute majority in the houses of parliament, the elected Govt passed the bill and made it a law. So in future, courts will take cognizance of the amendments easily to give clean chit to mega projects even if there is a strong case for saving the forests. So, the amendments have literally snatched the rights of posterity. Days are not far off when a kid will wonder what a jungle is. The future researchers will do their empirical studies on degeneration of the tropical forest during 21^st century for their PhDs!

Published in Dwarka Express on 22.7.23

One year back, from July 1^st, 2022, Single Use Plastic (SUP) was banned all over India as per CPCB directive, heeding to the clarion call of the Prime Minister of India. Will banning SUP eliminate plastic? In fact the ban was severely criticized from its inception because the portion of SUP may be 2%-3% of the total plastic waste generated in India, as per industry estimates. So critics were not enthusiastic about the ban. The list of banned items includes -ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, etc. And it was optimistically hoped that the ban would eliminate SUPs at the first instance. Secondly the thinner plastic material will clog the drains and do much harm that the reusable plastics.

But unfortunately, if any researcher makes an analysis of the impact of SUP Ban, he would find the apparent results. Perhaps, his conclusions might be “Ban of SUP has little impact or negligible results” Even today, when we reach any vegetable vendor without a bag, the thin SUP carry bag comes handy for the seller as well as the buyer. Seller uses it because of his helplessness and lack of awareness. The educated buyers, which includes all of us, have the feeling that one polythene bag would not affect environment. Or he may not regret much and would simply blame Government and manufacturers for the failure of the ban. He perhaps is partially true, because the ban on manufacturing is not completely followed or monitored effectively. On the part of the consumer, social consciousness is lacking

All over the world, 300 million tons of plastics are produced and a whooping 91% of the same is not recycled at all. When plastic has become an integral part of our life, it is not possible to completely eliminate the same. Stopping the production will end in loss of employment. It is therefore necessary that SUP at least be completely eliminated from circulation. It is possible with more tab on production ban on one hand and stricter penalties for the usage. In India, it is not that the rules are broken by all. While corporates like Big Basket have started giving compostable bags in lieu of SUP bags. Many medical shops, provision shops and many super markets offer paper bags. But the movement is not gaining momentum. Even now, it is reliably learnt that polythene bags, are available online from leading online companies.

Dr V Selvarajan

Published in Dwarka Express on 8.7.23

Recently some like-minded activists wanted to try a Miyawaki type forest and planned to plant 5000 trees. But where is space in urban areas? They could not locate the land and therefore approached the local authorities. After a lot of hesitation, they spotted some location and came forward to allot the land for plantation. The activists carried out a soil test for ascertaining suitability and finally they came to the MoU stage. The activists asked for a assurance that these trees will not be felled for any development purpose. When asked the school authorities who owned the land, they refused to give anything in writing. The project has gone to cold storage because there is no guarantee for felling the trees for development activities.  The earth below me seemed to jolt as I read in social media that 2 lacs trees are going to be felled near Nagpur. Massive felling has become the order of the day. We need road, we need power projects, we need dams. We do not deny. But why this crazy felling of trees in pristine jungles. At this rate we are going to lose the natural resources which is the prime asset in India.

Felling a tree or two that comes in the way for a road or a building is understandable though not tolerable. And if under the tree preservation act of the respective states, if the local Govts order planting of 10 saplings in lieu of felling one tree, we can understand that some compensatory plantation is done in order to try some damage control. During Dwarka Expressway construction in Delhi, 1000s of trees were felled and was also told that they were transplanted. It is also an open secret that many of the transplanted trees stand as dead wood as the transplantation drive was just an eyewash. Even if we consider the rough estimate value of one full grown tree is about a Crore rupee, imagine the loss for felling 2 lac trees. Environmental clearances are becoming mockery of the system and proving to be just paper works.

To nurture a tree for 50 years just to make it fall a prey to the evil axe of the wood cutters is not acceptable. In Delhi, I remember that the amazing canopy of the narrow PUSA Road was completely wiped out by using chainsaws, overnight when Metro Rail corporation (DMRC) built the pillars. Tears dropped down when I saw huge trunks felled trees lying for months at Vande Madhram Marg, almost daily. Later on, DMRC learnt the art of felling huge trees and removing them without anyone’s notice overnight. In those days, I used to travel by scooter in PUSA road to my office in Old Rajinder Nagar. In fact, no one could even identify the spot where the trees stood. The magic of disappearing trees was a routine affair for me until the blue line Metro got constructed. The current metro users might not realize the pain that seniors like me might have experienced. Yes, today, the blue line carries millions but the environmental & emotional damage to a boulevard like PUSA cannot be measured.

Similarly, Bangalore, the once garden city is now slowly turning into a garbage city. We need to bring up roads and other infra structure projects. But let the policy makers apply their mind before acting. Let us not denude mother Earth, lest we will not be able to compensate the irreparable losses.

Dr V Selvarajan

Published in Dwarka Express on 1.7.23

It was an MNC (Multi-National Corporations) in Gurugram, Haryana! After signing in, a guest entered the restroom. The mirror in restroom of an MNC welcomed him with the slogan ‘SAVE ENVIRONMENT’! The tissue dispenser cautioned him, ‘Do you really need a second tissue, just think of ME (Tree),’ (with a tree pic). He showed his hands in the wash bowl. The sensor enabled tap, dispensed water for 7 seconds. He got into snack bar to have a coffee and searched for a disposable paper cup, but instead, there was a reusable mug at coffee dispenser, with an instruction to ‘wash and reuse’. One who was environmentally conscious, would have felt delighted at all such eco-friendly efforts. In fact, MNCs care nature, not just in words, but also in deeds. Simultaneously we also hear someone whispering that the entire building is air-conditioned and huge electricity consumption destroys nature. That is also true.  There are many ways that a corporate could contribute to environment besides planting trees and ideas mentioned above. Dry wet waste segregation is one area which has been always ignored. It is true that the corporates provide separate bins for both non-biodegradable and biodegradable waste. But it is often seen that the users drop waste unmindful of what is written on the bins. One area where the corporates are successful is paperless communications. Internet communication has eliminated the usage of paper and thereby tree felling is remarkably reduced. Digitalization has minimized the use of paper currency. However ever increasing infra development projects are posing challenge to the green cover. It is essential that corporates double up their ecofriendly ways.

Reducing carbon emissions is one of the vital CSR (Corporate Social responsibility) directives in all countries. In terms of the latest Egypt convention, the large institutions in all countries. should have specific and time bound targets to reduce carbon footprints. While providing visual delight in the form of well-maintained greeneries and stylish reception halls with ecofriendly slogans, displays, products made from waste and landscape wall paintings add aesthetic value to the ambience, it is necessary that large institutions like resorts, hotels, MNCs, Gyms, restaurants, professionally managed gated communities etc should make small efforts to keep the environment clean and green. Undoubtedly ambience is essential to pursue the aesthetic lifestyle on the one hand and to promote business on the other. However ecofriendly environment is not always emphasized by all quite a lot of Indian Corporates with a few exceptions. The Corporate and Institutional sector occupies a major percentage in Indian economy. No economy may survive without the care for ecology. Under this backdrop, the pivotal role played by corporates assumes importance in the upkeep of the environment.

Dr V Selvarajan