Published on Dwarka Express on 19.5.24

During the last week, 1000s of grown-up trees have fallen in Bangalore. No surprise! After 6 months of dry spell, the sky tore off to devastate Bangalore with heavy downpour. Bangalore is not just an isolated case. Climate activists from Delhi were active in social media, lamenting over the uprooting of large number of trees during recent rains. Mumbai’s hailstorm is devastating. When we open dailies, we invariably come across on or other grumbling and showing deep concern over the uprooting of trees.  Trees falling during heavy downpour is not a big deal. It is happening all over India. If one examines the reason, he will realize that it is mostly due to concretization or digging. People dig the ground for cabling purposes and roots get damaged extensively. Most of the trees which were planted long back lose their roots due to road expansion and construction activities in their proximity. It is essential to know how much efforts we have taken to save existing trees. At the same time, we also need to accept that there is no need to nurture the grown-up trees.

One glaring reality is that the urbanization has taken its toll. The saplings planted on road sides are hard hit. Either they are felled to give way for road expansion or the roots are cut due to cabling works done. India sees a hell lot of cabling work, sometimes for telephone lines, or electrification or otherwise roads are dug for laying huge sewerage pipelines. For instance, the Airport metro of Delhi is an engineering marvel, but if one travels from airport to New Delhi Railway station in this rapid metro, he will be passing through the central ridge which is at the verge of Aravalli range. One can see the pristine for forests which remained untouched for centuries have been split into two halves to give way for the tunnel as well as pillars. Underground aquifers and roots of old trees were the causalities in the making of the state-of-the-art metro rail. A deep-dive into the background that leads to the fall of trees in Bangalore gave us an idea that the uprooting of the trees is either due to heavy downpour or gusty winds. The municipal or forest authorities are not showing much interest in re-erecting the uprooted trees, for the obvious reason that they must take extra load to bring a JCB or horticulture workers and engage them for the whole day. Secondly, they are also apprehensive that such storms and heavy rains would repeat again and the volume of work might become multifold. It is apparent that the uprooting of trees is mostly due to man-made changes to the soil around the tree. Only a negligible percentage of trees fall due to aging. Given the scene, it is essential for responsible citizens to identify the trees in danger zone and make timely intervention by giving them clinical support such as investigating the vulnerability of trees to natural disasters and taking up with authorities to prevent uprooting of trees due to such disasters.

Prevention is better than cure! (photo courtesy: Social media post)

Published in Dwarka Express on 12.5.24

In most of the court cases related to environment versus development, initially courts observe as if they are very friendly to ecology and have deep concern for environment. But when the judgment comes, in many cases the decision favours the developmental activity only. For instance, in tree felling cases, courts permit felling of trees and allow infrastructure development. In South Delhi, during redevelopment of areas, felling of trees were strongly protested by environmentalists in 2018 by staging a CHIPCO. Several NGOs have filed PIL but the redevelopment work never stopped. Trees were felled. In Dwarka Expressway opposite to Shiv Murti statue, large number of trees were felled for a road expansion project. It is beyond comprehension whether the resistance from the protagonists of development is hard-hitting or the arguments in favour of environment are frail. Even when court advocates transplantation or compensatory plantation, such moves are never monitored. Many a time, the transplanted trees wither.

India has lost 6.7 lac hectares of forests between 2015 and 2020 according to a report. Many petitions in protest have since been dismissed by various courts.  India has 500 plus environment laws including 17 state laws to control crimes related to pollution and destruction of natural resources.  The directive principle under Article 48A of the Indian constitution speaks of environmental protection and safeguarding of forests and wildlife. Though laws are there to protect environment, the experience shows that the enforcement of the laws and punishment of the criminals are not felt. Further the meddling of political parties and bureaucracy is daunting. People also do not raise to the occasion, cutting across the party affiliations for fear of victimization. Besides, if someone is having a blind faith in some political party, he or she gets mellowed down resulting in compromising the stand.

History has shown us that in blackbuck hunting case, influential people could go scot-free. Even if proved guilty the punishment is always minimal. Recently in a power plant case in Bangalore, in a knee jerk reaction, thousands have thronged the social media to protest against the gas leakage and noise pollution. But the police took a stringent action against the admins who sought their permission to conduct a peaceful dharna. In the last minute the proposed dharna was dropped as difference of opinion brewed up. Ultimately people’s voice gave way to the noise pollution and gas release. There is no equity in punishing the poor and leaving the rich in environmental cases. We come across large scale violations all over the country either in the form of forest land encroachment or infra construction in pristine forest areas. Single use plastic was banned by Government from July 1, 2022. Still, we see free use of SUP everywhere.

A law without enforcement is a tiger without teeth!

Published in Dwarka Express on 5.5.24

Election fever is climaxing all over India. It is very hot both in the country’s temperature as well as campaigning. We are in the midst of India’s largest democratic exercise which will continue till May 2024 end. While the temperature definitely comes across the robustness of the campaigning, yet parties are on their Do or Die mission to push their ideologies. Lot of documents in the form of manifestos are being circulated by leading political parties. Though it is difficult to go through the detailed manifestos, we had a glimpse of the highlights. We are doubtful whether common man goes through the manifesto in detail in reality. All said and done, releasing a manifesto has become an inevitable formality. At best, we believe that the panelists and star campaigners as well may be going through the same meticulously at least to counter the opponents.

For one, every one of us may have our own justification for choosing the most preferred political parties, when we stand before the EVM and gaze at VVPAT. Further it is a matter of beliefs. Most of us vote on this premise that the chosen candidate or the party is the best. In broader standpoint, voting is the paramount democratic duty and we have no second opinion about this. In general, the common parameters for decision making are employment, inflation, security and the way people’s representatives respond to the local issues. Political parties just make a mention somewhere in a corner about the status of environment, sustainable development and availability of natural resources like pure water, clean air and hygienic living conditions. People also comfortably forget that the environment must be the top priority in election manifestos. The raising temperature appears formidable. At this rate, in 22^nd century, there will not be life on earth.

• Why don’t we consider environmental conservation as the main agenda for the elections?
• Why don’t candidates promise a target of planting 10 crore trees each?
• Why don’t candidates promise a garbage free city, if voted to power?  
• Why don’t parties ensure AQI of <100 if voted to power?
• Why don’t parties promise sustainable development initiatives?
• Why don’t parties assure time bound lake rejuvenations?
• Why don’t parties promise non polluting industries?
• Why don’t parties assure target specific climate tech startups?
• Why don’t parties commit a timeline to meet the net zero emissions as per Paris accord?