22 April is the World Earth Day. A day to introspect-are we really doing enough to save our only home in the universe? However, the way the people in power are behaving, there seems to be a serious gap between what they preach and what they do. Are they serious about saving the earth or apathic and corrupt?
A common person can only green his personal living space, the main onus is on the government and the people in power.
The Indian state Punjab is one state where the ruling party practices just the opposite of what is being preached by them, which casts serious doubts on their green agenda.
They have started a project to save the girl child and the trees, but almost everywhere in Punjab, scores of fully grown and very old peepal, shisham, banyan or other trees are being slaughtered in the name of development. The organisations under their patronage too are flouting the rules and doing the same, every other day.
All the appeals of nature lovers are falling on deaf ears, as malls, multiplexes, high rise apartments and wide roads are the favourite priority of the government.
Punjab is fast changing into a concrete jungle, which does not bode well for the state.
Already rice and euclyptus plantation has affected the level of ground water, and merciless cutting of trees will further push the state towards desertification, which will be a very sad day for Punjab.
The government should understand that development does not mean multiplexes but improvement in the living standards of a common person and his environment. Mere planting of ornamental saplings for media and press isn’t going to help Punjab. We need serious and sustainable programmes to save and plant trees in Punjab.
Green trees and plants are a better investment than a huge pile of bricks and mortar. And planting ornamental ficus plants is no substitute for felling down of peepal, banyan and shisham trees, which give a 24 hour supply of oxygen.
The politicians need to throw away their myopic glasses and read the writing on the wall-green Punjab is worth than a concrete Punjab.
Author-Jasmin
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