In a meeting to mark World Environment Day on Wednesday, Minister of Food and Civic Supplies department Saryu Roy stressed on the urgency to fight air pollution in the State. People should get together to fight the biggest concern facing humanity, he said.
The meeting was organised at the Minister’s residence by environmental NGO Yugantar Bharti, along with Nature Foundation and Devnad Damodar Chetra Vikas Trust. The main agenda was ‘Beat Air Pollution’, in tandem with the UN’s theme this year. Issues of river pollution were also raised. The meeting, with BJP leader Suryamani Singh as chief guest, saw people from various fields raising concerns over the condition of air and river in the state.
“While there has been a lot of focus on environment degradation by industries, I feel there is a dire need to reassess our individual lifestyle habits and change our consumption pattern. Uncontrolled consumption by 10 per cent of the population affects everyone. Instead of promoting this, we should teach our children to worry about environmental issues,” said Environment Initiative Convener Manoj Singh.
Renowned artist Haren Thakur stressed on the importance of reducing mental and visual pollution. “Our negative thoughts affect the environment. And our thoughts in turn are affected by the visuals we see on a daily basis,” he said. Thakur cited the example of the tribes of Solomon Islands, who never cut a tree.
Many workers and activists from neighbouring districts of Dhanbad, Bokaro and Lohardaga, associated with the Damodar Bachao Andolan(DBA) were also present at the meeting. “DBA, started in 2004 under the aegis of Saryu Roy, has produced drastic results in the cleaning and conservation of the Damodar River. We plan to extend the movement to its tributaries and other dying rivers in the State,” said DBA Convener Praveen Kumar Singh, who was also hosting the meeting.
Roy, who is also the founder of DBA highlighted the discrepancies in government policies and suggested a way ahead. “The Damodar Bachao Andolan made a lot of progress in controlling industrial discharge in the river, yet a lot remains to be covered,” he said.
Talking about air pollution, he pointed out the lack of Jharkhand’s participation in the National Clean Air Programme. “Only one city from Jharkhand is in the 100-plus cities chosen by the government. This is not because our State is pollution free, but because we do not have proper data on the issue. Proper detection units should be installed across cities and the Pollution Control Board should be strengthened.
Instead of collaborating with corporate companies, the board should work independently with the money allotted by the Government,” said the Minister.
Many activists and environmentalists pointed out that more work should have been done by the government, given their majority in both Centre and State.