Lettuce lady's Earth Day message: Eat green

Wearing an off the shoulder dress made of lettuce leaves, the woman stood holding the signboard asking passers-by to give up meat and dairy products. Kriti Sachdeva, who played the lettuce lady, said, "It is impossible to go green without going vegan. Just by changing their diet, people can help protect the Earth, their own health and countless animals."

Earth Day, which started as an environmental teach-in by a US politician in the 70s, has gone on to become the most important environmental event on the calendar. Recognising this, the United Nations, in 2009, designated April 22 as International Mother Earth day.

Sustainable water

The Mines and Geology Department also got into the act to create awareness on Earth Day by organising a talk on water conservation, in association with the Centre for Human Resource Development on Thursday.

“Government is not taking the present water crisis as a priority issue. Instead funds are diverted for projects like metro, roads and flyovers. No one even talks about the quality of water that is being consumed by the public now," said former additional chief secretary, Chiranjeevi Singh, while delivering the talk.  

Singh said: “Although we have different departments looking into various water issues, there is no agency which looks into water management in a unified manner.”

This year's Earth Day theme is 'Sustainable water resources: Urban and Rural challenges'. Talking on the issue, Singh said: "There is immense pressure to increase food production for the growing population of our country, but government is not coming up with any comprehensive plans to sustain water resources which are key for agriculture production. Crops like rice and sugarcane, which need more water, are given priority instead of ragi and millets. Government is also giving incentives for sugarcane and paddy growers."

Singh said the government was keen on getting more investments and establishing steel companies in the State, rather than finding a long term solution to the growing water crisis in the State and City. Bangalore once had 400 lakes, which have been reduced to 64 now. Even the existing ones do not have proper inflow and outlet.

Twenty years ago, the groundwater level in Bangalore was good. But a recent study by Department of Mines and Geology shows fluoride, arsenic, chromium and nitrate beyond permissible levels in the groundwater, he added.