The World Environment Day is observed on June 5. Environment means the external conditions or surrounding but the ecological concept of environment explains the external surrounding in which a plant or animal lives and its influence on each living organism’s development and behaviour.
Man is alone responsible for pollution of the whole environment. In the name of development, the whole environment is polluted mindlessly. The whole living world is suffering for the misdeed of human beings.
Summing up the nuisances created in the name of development, Winston Churchill had said in the British Parliament in February 1944 that it is better to be frightened now than killed hereafter. He also expressed anguish over ungoverned dominance of technology which drives the present human races into Stone Age.
Running after mega industries, mega automobiles, ballistic missiles, spacecrafts and radio activism etc, we have damaged our environment. The natural resources have already been polluted. Many animal and plant species are extinct due to poisoning of natural resources while several others are on the verge of extinction. There are various obnoxious gasses and many suspended particles which spoil the natural quality of air. The main constituent of pollution is carbon dioxide, which impairs the natural quality of air as well as the ozone layer.
If we analyze the present scenario of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, it will be seen that the atmospheric temperature has gone up to 460 Celsius in both the States, which was not seen before. The coastal ecological system is quite different from other regions. The bio diversity of coastal region is quite rich yet due to alarming level of pollution, it is now vulnerable to several disasters.
Due to action of ultraviolet rays, many species of warm- blooded animals like mammals suffer most. In case of warm blooded animals, the body temperature of the mammals always remains above the atmospheric temperature. The exceptional rise of atmospheric temperature harms the warm blooded animals. Because the heat is unbearable, we need to install air conditioning (AC). All the coastal plains are thickly populated and industrially rich. The biodiversities of these regions are mostly affected.
The concept of World Environmental Day is to create awareness among the people of the globe to keep the regional ecological climate free from pollution as far as possible. If the people become aware of the hazards of environmental pollution and take measures at individual and collective levels to protect the environment, it can be habitable and biologically safe.
Man himself is a part of ecological process of his habitat. If his habitat is lost, then his life process cannot function any longer. The developed as well as many developing countries which are the worst offenders are not prepared to pay for a healthy and safe world.
Pollution does not know any political or geographical boundaries of any State or union. So the efforts should be made collectively for a safe environment.
Recently the State Government of Odisha has prepared an action plan on climate change, which stresses on ecology and economy of the land. The main points to deal with for successful implementation of this action plans are (1) Planting of fruit bearing trees for economic support of rural poor, (2) Importance on small irrigation projects, (3) Planting of open or barren land, (4) Conservation, development and scientific management of coastal lands, forests, and also coastal ecological systems, (5) Raising of plantations to arrest climate change and pacify the climatic temper, (6) Conservation of power and check misutilization of power, (7) Check on vehicular activities discharging excess carbons for environment pollutions, (8) Check on wastage of non– taxable water resources and (9) Regulation on emission of carbon dioxide by industries etc.
No doubt, these are the vital issues to modulate the climatic temper of the present scenario. But no specific provisions are seen for protection, conservation and revalidation of bald hillocks and mountains. Protection and renovationof natural as well as artificial wetland is also vital.
Hill forests are the source of all river systems and streams. But they are now being destroyed. The administration should be very particular on the issue and take the corrective measures. There is wetland policy of Government of India for scientific management of all wetlands. But the instructions are violated by the State officials practically in the field.
If we consider the case of Bhubaneswar, there are several policies and plans for proper environmental management of the State capital but there is no political and administrative will for execution of the same. Therefore, the whole capital now has been rendered an artificial, rocky ground, which helps the atmospheric temperature to rise abruptly. The Kuakhai river, which is a major wetland of the State capital, is now becoming a mega sewerage system.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)