Published in Dwarka Express on 25.6.22

As per the original Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, there is a complete ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. As per PWM (Amended) Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 75 microns has been banned with effect from 30th September, 2021 as opposed to 50 microns recommended earlier under PWM Rules, 2016. The latest CPCB notification of 12th August 2021, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the identified single use plastic items less than 100 microns (see box) with effect from the 1st July, 2022.

On the supply side, already directions have been issued to petrochemical industries to stop supplying the raw materials for manufacture of the banned items. On the demand side, directions have been issued to E-commerce companies, leading single use plastic sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers with respect to phasing out of identified single use plastic items. Series of trainings are being conducted for MSMEs to stop production throughout the country. Some alternatives to develop compostable plastic is also going on simultaneously. NGOs, Voluntary organisations are also being roped in to create awareness

To enable citizen participation, an SUP Public Grievance App was launched by Hon’ble Minister EF&CC, Shri Bhupender Yadav and comprehensive directions have been issued to all stake holders. By doing so, the Government has proved its seriousness to control SUPs. So, CPCB is hell bent to enforce SUP ban from July 22. India is a vast country with 140 crore population most of whom might not have gone through the new set of rules. It is therefore understandable that implementation would take time. It is the duty of every Indian to raise to the occasion to address this issue seriously. South Express expects that there would be many violations reported in the App. It is going to be a formidable task to address all grievances. Nevertheless, it is also true that if we miss the bus this time, it will not be possible to return to the plastic free era. Will the SUPs vanish? Let us not wait and watch, but ACT NOW!

Published in Dwarka Express on 18.6.22

When it comes to environment, it appears that this topic is the soft target for all. Environmentalists are criticised for being conservative and negative about development. The term ‘Sustainable development’ is emerging as an easy excuse to push forward many projects in India. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is slowly becoming a futile ‘Kagaz puri karo’ exercise. When South Delhi redevelopment project was going on and environmentalists question the massive tree felling, one court was shocked to see that the EIA was consisting of some sentences pertaining to a Tamilnadu Project, clearly evidencing that the EIA was just a COPY-PASTE exercise. This clearly raised the brows of the environmentalists and economists alike as to whether the sustainable development paradigm bears any rhyme or reason. Ultimately such glaring mistakes or so called paper work colloquially, ends detrimental to the environment with a resultant irreversible damage for the very human civilisation. A classic example is we replace the potential urban biodiversity parks into amusement parks after environmental clearances. So many native species of flora and fauna become extinct in such unabated onslaughts. Environment clearances should follow stringent norms and also be vetted by a multi-disciplinary panel of ecologists and economists, not just by bureaucrats.

Unless the mindset of the policy makers changes, such environmental threats will continue. No wonder, a child participating in the drawing competition on ‘Save environment’ theme stands clueless when their moms push them to participate in such vexatious drawing competitions. Are we doing justice to the gen-next? A child quips, ‘should I carry this plastic water bottle to school or not? ‘Save environment’ is just in paper, whether it is a school going child or drafter of EIA document. This is the bitter reality!

Published in Dwarka Express on 11.6.22

The times are changing and so our lifestyle. Today’s generation do not have time to stand and stare. They have already deep dived into their corporate timelines. ‘ONLY ONE WORLD’ is the environmental theme for this year by UN. All over the world, every year we celebrate World Environment Day on 5^th June invariably, but are we doing any follow up action? Its not enough that we celebrate one day in a year and forget environment for the rest of the days in the year. Our environment is getting worse day by day. Carbon emission is going on unabated, comfortably forgetting Paris declaration. Even rural areas are showing the symptoms of urban maladies. Trees are being felt in large scale to pave way for development activities. Water is becoming a scarcity. Soil quality is degraded. Air is unbreathable. Development has relegated environment to a backseat. Many of our social organisations are focussing on planting a tree to mark the Environment Day, just to forget the same the very next day and to return to life as usual. Bureaucrats are showing callousness in managing the environment. Our population is increasing at rocket speed while natural resources are depleting drastically. It is against this backdrop that UN has given a warning note, rightly choosing the phrase ONLY ONE EARTH as its theme. We must think globally and act locally. South Express gives all a clarion call TO ACT NOW!

I feel proud to be a birder

I started my birding activities when I was 20, and continuing the hobby since then. I have been visiting places in India looking for birds .

How I started the birding?

Well, it is an interesting history. I was in my BSc Zoology class in 1975. I was a reluctant learner of anything about animals then. Prof Daniel Wesley created some impact on my understanding of the subject. Though I did not show much interest in any topic, the one topic which attracted me was Bird Migration. I wanted to explore all about birds. One day, one bird fell on my balcony and I was curious to know which bird it was and therefore I rushed to the college lab with the bird. Prof was not there, but the lab attendant said that it was a sparrow juvenile and this induced my curiosity further.

Birding & wildlife as a hobby!

After graduation, I met one Mr Natarajan, who was running a wildlife conservation Society (WILCOS) in Trichy, and my first visit to a nearby Puliancholai at Thuraiyur, 40 KMs away was my first birding trip with him and I encountered a wagtail for the first time. Thus started my birding journey in 1975 (I was 20 year old then). But then, search for a career and subsequent landing in Pollachi, a small town near Coimbatore shattered my love for bird watching. But my love for nature and environment continued

Birding with GP!

Then the running was never ending, Career in Banking, Trade Union activities, marriage, Children, family life, transfers, promotions, one chased another and my realisation that I am not doing justification for me education or passion had swallowed another 10 years. It was when I reached Erode and met some friends who were seriously into nature related activities that I revived my interest in Birding. Important person I met was Mr G Paramasivan, (GP) a botanist and a teacher who joined me in birding. With NSS students, we check-listed birds in Erode district. In 1992, we located Vellode lake (near Erode) which had a variety of water birds. I left Erode on transfer to Delhi in 1993 but GP had continued the struggle to declare Vellode as a bird sanctuary. Our efforts yielded results and we were able to get the place declared as Vellode Bird Sanctuary. Today after 30 years, GP and I recollect our initial efforts to get the place declared as bird sanctuary and at times we are proud that it is now an hotspot in global portal eBird International and about 190+ species are recorded till date

Birding in Delhi

When transferred to Farukhnagar, Haryana, a remote place for a non Hindi speaking persona like me, my first thing I did was to search for the location and I found that there is a bird sanctuary called Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. I almost decided to join the bank branch but I was given a city branch in Delhi. Anyway I kept my urge to visit Sultanpur which made me return to my hobby for the next 27 years. I emerged as an environmentalist, thanks to the love for birds.

Bangalore Birding

My birding journey continues. As usual I located a lake near my apartment, called Puttenahalli, which is a bird reserve. I continue my journey in preserving the habitat. There is a lake (across the road) in front of my apartment, one on the back (2KM), one on the left (3KM) and one on the right (1KM). What else is needed? I am back with my hobby.