The green is going...

Going green’ may be the buzzword these days, but it has more or less become redundant. Look around, and there is only grey and very little green. As another ‘Earth Day’ dawns, the message is written on the wall, rather in one’s backyard and indeed all around. Depleting water bodies and lung spaces, polluted air, rising carbon footprints, the challenges are plenty and the solutions far and few.

 
“Earth does not belong to us. We belong to Earth,” points out Vishwanath BN, a pioneer in promoting urban agriculture in India. “Try to protect the environment and give a chance of survival not just for you but for future generations as well. On this ‘Earth Day’, being an agriculturist, I would say, protect the soil, grow more trees and bring back the glory of Bengaluru.”

“This city is in such a state now because of the irresponsibility of the people, be it the politicians or bureaucrats. In old Bengaluru alone, there were 300 lakes, now they have come down to 60. The unfortunate thing is how the authorities are trying to fill in the tanks and convert them into layouts,” he adds.

The solutions are there but implementing them is the challenge, say experts. Environmentalist Suresh Heblikar is vocal about it. “The problems affecting the environment are getting complex by the day. We should protect the three elements — water, air and land. But with the urbanisation mantra, things are turning worse.”

“Sadly, our wants have become our needs and we are becoming more and more dependent on gadgets. Our ponds, lakes and other waterbodies are disappearing and in their places, apartments and malls are coming up. Our water tables have sunk. I feel there is less awareness about what the future would be if our natural resources disappear,” he adds.

However, there are environment-conscious individuals who are doing their bit be it through terrace gardening or eco-friendly ways of commuting like cycling. Aditya Mendonca, the founder of South Fire Cycling’, that conducts cycling trails across the City, explains how more and more people should take it up. “I was inspired to take up cycling after a trip abroad. I saved for two months and picked up an imported cycle. Initially, I started cycling with friends. and the numbers are now growing. We have now been conducting cycle trails for the past 97 weeks. It is not only good for the environment but as an activity too. There are people who stay indoors all through the day. Cycling is the way to go,” he adds. Indeed, cycling is a great eco-friendly option to cover short distances. Murali, another cycling enthusiast, “It is a  great option. People look at cycling just as a means to commute, but it is more than that. It also promotes freedom of movement. I feel people should come out of the boxes (read cars) and think in that direction. There should be unity in purpose, unity in existence. It’s about living together and moving together,” he says. The change should come at the macro level and Vishwanath adds, “One should realise that there are not just humans living on the planet. Seventy five percent of the planet is occupied by insects, the remaining comprises other living organisms, which include the mammals. There are 3,500 species of mammals and man is only a line in it. And man is destroying the entire planet.”

He says the two most important things individuals can do is harvest water and make compost from waste. “Rainwater can be used for everything and if treated properly, can be used for drinking as well. Secondly, segregate the waste generated at home itself. Sixty per cent of the waste generated can be composted and others can be recycled. The compost can be used to grow plants on your terrace. If you love the environment and take care of it, it will take care of you,” adds Vishwanath.

Sivadasan K and Jayasree have an organic garden on their terrace. “We started it because we are  passionate about organic farming. We believe that it is always better to eat what we grow. Here, in our little garden we have capsicum, carrots, cabbage and tomatoes, which takes care of 50 per cent of our needs. It is definitely a time-consuming process but worth all the effort,” he adds.

Adds Heblikar, “I feel there is no awareness among communities about what the future would be if our natural resources disappear. There is not enough water in the ground. Let’s have charts for governments, corporates, schools and colleges and keep track of the amount of water, power etc being consumed on a day-to-day basis. I remember a British geologist friend of mine telling me, ‘You must keep the ground water as a fixed deposit and use it only during an emergency’.”

“The problem is we have taken everything for granted. And unless these are made mandatory, nothing can change,” he says. In the final analysis, what’s good for the planet can only be good for the people on it.