On the occasion of the World Environment Day on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the need to live in harmony with nature for a better future and reminded that planting saplings is not enough and people have to take care of it till it becomes a tree.
“Our planet and environment is something we all cherish greatly. Today on #WorldEnvironmentDay, we reiterate our commitment to ensure a cleaner planet,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
However, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was not impressed with the Government’s efforts in saving the environment, which he said, had degraded and called for making it a political issue so that it gets the importance it deserves. Taking to Facebook, he said millions of Indians are suffering and even dying as a direct consequence of environmental degradation and the Government’s “unwillingness” to address these issues on a war footing.
“Our planet and environment is something we all cherish greatly. Today on #WorldEnvironmentDay, we reiterate our commitment to ensure a cleaner planet,” the Prime Minister tweeted and also posted a short video saying that planting saplings is not enough and people have to take care of it till it becomes a tree.
On the occasion, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar planted saplings with cricketer Kapil Dev and actor Jackie Shroff as part of the new #selfiewithsapling campaign.
“I appeal to the people to plant a sapling, click a picture with it and post it on social media using ‘#SelfieWith Sapling’. We need such initiatives as we are creating a carbon sink,” the Minister said, adding that the “Modi Government believes that environment is not just a Government programme but a people’s programme.”
Every year, World Environment Day is organised around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2019, “Beat Air Pollution,” is a call to action to combat this global crisis.
Javadekar, who took charge as the environment minister on Saturday, said ‘jan bhagidari’ (people’s participation) is integral to tackling environmental issues, and it has to be a people’s movement.
Recently, the ministry released a music video for this year’s theme of World Environment Day, “Hawa Aane De”. The video features Bollywood actors like Akshay Kumar and Rajkummar Rao, among others. Renowned singers like Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan and Sunidhi Chauhan lent their voices to the song.
In Bhubaneswar, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) said it has adopted a three pronged strategy to protect and preserve the environment and produce steel in harmony with nature. The strategy includes: Progressive adoption of environment friendly new technologies, environmental monitoring and spreading environmental awareness, RSP said in a statement on the World Environment Day.
RSP, the first Indian Steel Plant to adopt environment friendly and energy efficient LD technology in early 60’s, is giving top most priority towards adopting the latest technology available for making of green steel, it said.
With a view to create awareness and to take timely action to protect the environment, the employees of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), too came together to celebrate the day with a difference by showcasing an exhibition of art works made out of waste material in stock on the campus of the organisation.
Inaugurated by IGNCA Member Secretary Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, the project has been conceptualised by Kaladarsana Division with an effort to work at an institutional level to bring a change amongst the employees working here.
However, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) chairman Nand Kumar Sai took the opportunity to talk about the grievances about the tribal people saying that they were being driven out of forests and nobody is willing to talk about them on World Environment Day.
He also suggested that MPs hold an intensive discussion on the issue of pollution on the first day of the Budget Session of Parliament that is scheduled to begin on June 17.
“People are dying due to the oppressive heat. You are cutting down trees in the name of development and driving tribal people out of their home. These people live close to nature, worship and protect it. But no one is willing to talk about their plight on World Environment Day,” Sai said.