Conflict between development and environment

Raipur was the 7th most polluted city in the world. Chhattisgarh produces around 15% of the total steel production in India

Vibhor Pandey . Raipur mobile#8839345993 @Vibhor1502

The state of Chhattisgarh is a treasure of natural resources. Chhattisgarh State largely consists of plateaus streaked with high range of Satpuras in the north, the river Mahanadi and its tributaries in the Central plains and the Bastar Plateau in the South. The Pats (Hills) give rise to the main river systems Mahanadi, Hasdeo, Shivnath and Indravati. Chhattisgarh is one of the most mineral rich states of India. There are 28 varieties of minerals found in the State. However it is because of using these resources to their potential and having a purpose of development for the state drawbacks have emerged both in the urban and rural areas of Chhattisgarh.

The urban half of chhattisgarh and its environment

The urban half of Chhattisgarh consists of cities like Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Raigarh, Korba and Rajnandgaon. These cities are the more developed ones when compared to the rest of Chhattisgarh. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently declared Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur as the country's most polluted city. Union minister of environment and forests A Raja presented a report in parliament based on a study on the presence of Suspended Particulate Matter (spm) in the air in 52 cities; Raipur ranked highest. In 2016, WHO announced that Raipur was the 7th most polluted city in the world. Chhattisgarh produces around 15% of the total steel production in India. The city of Bhilai has the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), It is India’s first and main producer of steel but due to BSP’S presence the state of Chhattisgarh also suffers from air pollution or atleast the areas surrounding BSP. Along with the major industries and steel and coal Chhattisgarh also has subsidiary industries of sponge iron. Sponge iron production is banned in about 120 countries, but still India is the biggest sponge iron producer in the world and Chhattisgarh is the biggest sponge iron producer in India. One of the biggest reasons for mass respiratory diseases in Chhattisgarh is the “Black dust” which is basically large amount of tiny and very fine iron particles combined with dust.

Coal is the major mineral in Korba and its abundance has led to mining and power industry leaders setting up shop in the area. Korba is home to South Eastern Coalfields Limited, NTPC, Bharat Aluminum Company Limited, Aryan Coal Beneficiations Private Limited among others.

However, according to activists, unchecked and unregulated mining in the area is not only harming the environment but having a disastrous effect on agriculture, air quality and people’s health. According to the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index of the Central Pollution Control Board, Korba is among the most critically polluted areas of the country.

Thus in Chhattisgarh the industrialization has paved the way for development in urban cities like Raipur, Raigarh and Korba but at the same time it has led to high air pollution

Rural chhattisgarh & naxalism

The rural part of Chhattisgarh mainly consists of the Bastar region and its surrounding areas. The cultural pluralism in Bastar may be understood in terms of individual tribal life and culture with their territorial distribution. Life and culture of its tribal people are connected deeply with the nature around them and the forests of Sal, Sagun, Mahua and other forest timbers and plants. The first Indian forest act of 1878 is considered as the reason for the first tribal rebellion in Bastar in 1910 when the tribal leader Gunda dhur led the rebellion against then British raj in the princely state of bastar.

Naxalism started as a movement against land alienation. Today it has become a popular movement against natural resource alienation, particularly forests. Naxalites in Chhattisgarh used the deep lying anger of the locals and natives against the government, which dates back to the days of first Forest revolution, as a tool to gain ground.

The feelings of oppression and the presence of poverty in bastar ever since has been a major reason for why to this date, the natives of bastar have a revolting side to them. The naxalites commanders have used this emotion as a fuel to the fire of naxal terrorism.

However the other side of the coin is that because of the high level of trade supported by the government infrastructure has improved and economic situation has gotten better since the British raj days. Bastar even has a domestic airport and a medical college now which speaks volumes about the positive change the government policies and traders have influenced. Classically the conflict over the right to the forest products between the locals and the traders has led to a conflict between the modern development and forest conservation.

Chhattisgarh is a classic example of the need for sustainable development with a balance between the economic considerations and environment protection. In the recent years the local media has played a very crucial role in spreading awareness regarding the twin aspects. Resultantly while in the urban area the enforcement agencies are playing a hard role resulting in better air quality and in the rural areas of bastar the myth spread by the naxalites is fading away.

Delhi pollution at its peak

Air pollution constitutes the world’s biggest environmental health hazard and people who all are living in Delhi are getting used to it

Madhvi Jha . Delhi mobile#7835952321 @MadhviJha22

A recent report by Swiss organizations, IQ Air in the form of ‘World Air Quality’ Report, 2020’ states that 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities in India, with Delhi being ranked the most polluted capital city globally. Top 10 cities facing extreme Environmental risks. 1st Jakarta, Indonesia, and on 2nd its Delhi, India.

World Environment Day is on 5 June. The theme of World Environment Day 2021 is ‘Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystem restoration can also be promoted by conserving the ecosystem that is still intact. Every year this day is celebrated by planting thousands of plants and trees. After that have you ever thought about what we do to save our environment from pollution? No, because who cares even our government doesn’t care, because they are busy in their politics by blaming each other.

Air pollution, resulting from hazardous PM 2.5 fine particulate matter, claimed around 54,000 deaths in Delhi in 2020. Around 2.2 million children in Delhi have irreversible lung damage due to the poor quality of the air.

This is happening because neither there is a river nor a forest. There is one river Yamuna, but how clean it is we all know that. A thin layer of toxic foam always floats in the Yamuna. The two pollution committees The Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee work and take action against pollution. In 2015 National Green Tribunal (NGT) said anyone found polluting the Yamuna by throwing in material, including religious items, will face a fine of ₹ 5,000 and the fine will rise to ₹ 50,000 for those dumping construction waste into the river.

On Monday, 24th May 2021, the Air quality deteriorates in Delhi, due to low temperature, dusty winds from Rajasthan. On Monday, the AQI (Air Quality Index) was recorded at 205 in Dwarka, 189 in Punjabi Bagh, 158 in Grennpark respectively. As per government agencies, an AQI within the range of 101-200 is ‘moderate', 201-300 is ‘poor', and 401-500 is considered ‘severe’.

In recent interviews, Manish Sisodia quoted- “As we are approaching a century of our independence we would all like to put an end to environmental pollution under the leadership of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

While presenting the Delhi budget 2021-2022, Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia said the government has set aside ₹ 124.8 crores to tackle land, air pollution in Delhi.

If we talk about steps taken are-

• A tree plantation drive was launched last year to maintain green cover in Delhi.

• Two smog towers are in the final stages of installation.

• Delhi government is working on switching at least 25% of vehicles to e-vehicles.

• Delhi is the first state to have shut down those power plants which emit harmful gases.

Air pollution constitutes the world’s biggest environmental health hazard and people who all are living in Delhi are getting used to it.

I still remember, when I used to visit my hometown Bihar, the best part about Bihar was there was no pollution and if there was anything that was only fresh air. For people like me who stay here in Delhi and when we visit other states, it’s heaven for us, as we are so used to pollution.

Two years back I went to Darjeeling, West Bengal, one of the best places in India. Trees, mountains, and air were so pure and fresh. The climate of the city is always calm and chilled. It is filled with beautiful and enchanting monasteries. The lush green beauty of the tea garden mesmerizes the whole Darjeeling along with the dense pine forests and very foggy weather. It is one of the most beautiful places, I’ve ever been to.

It’s high time now we should wake up and take strong action against pollution as Delhi is experiencing a high level of air pollution. It is our responsibility to make sure this once life goes back to usual when the sky used to be blue and clean to the tweeting birds in our balconies. We can make a difference at an individual level by refusing to use plastic bags, plastic cutlery, plastic cups, and plates. We are not apart from nature. We must ensure we build back a world that coexists with all other species, protect natural habitats and seek solutions that are nature-based.

Every personal action counts!

Every personal action counts!. •

।। वनानि नः प्रजहितानि, दशपुत्रसमो द्रुमः ।।

धरती का अस्तित्व हमारी वजह से नहीं है, बल्कि हमारा अस्तित्व धरती की वजह से है।

ऋग्वेद के अनुसार, "वनानि नः प्रजहितानि, दशपुत्रसमो द्रुम:" अर्थात् ‘वनों को विनाश से बचाने के लिए वेद में एक वृक्ष को दस पुत्रों के समान कहा गया है

करुणा कुमारी . आरा (बिहार) mobile#7667135596 @durganews

प र्यावरण, यह दो शब्दों से मिलकर बना है, "परि' और "आवरण'। जिसमें "परि' का अर्थ है- "हमारे आसपास'। और "आवरण" का अर्थ है- "चारों तरफ से घेरना'। पर्यावरण उन सभी भौतिक, रासायनिक एवं जैविक कारकों की सम्मिलित इकाई है, जो किसी जीवधारी अथवा पारितंत्रीय आबादी को प्रभावित करते हैं तथा उनके रूप, जीवन और जीविता को तय करते हैं। धरती का अस्तित्व हमारी वजह से नहीं है, बल्कि हमारा अस्तित्व धरती की वजह से है।

21वीं सदी का पर्यावरण

इस 21वीं सदी में जिस तरह शुद्ध ऑक्सीजन की कमी हुई है, इससे साफ पता चल रहा है कि किस तरह से हम मानव से प्राकृति नाराज होती जा रही है। वैदिक संस्कृति का प्रकृति से अटूट सम्बन्ध है। वैदिक संस्कृति में पृथ्वी और प्रकृति से प्रेम करना सिखाया गया है। 21वीं सदी में औद्योगिक विकास के युग में विकासशील और विकसित देशों में हजारों-लाखों फैक्टरियां दिन-रात चलती रहती हैं। जिनसे निकलने वाला धुआं और विषैले पदार्थ हमारे पर्यावरण को बुरी तरह से प्रभावित करते जा रहे हैं। प्रदूषण की वजह से ही सूर्य की खतरनाक किरणों से रक्षा करने वाली ओज़ोन परत में छेद बढ़ता ही जा रहा है। धरती का तापमान इतना बढ़ गया है कि मार्च-अप्रैल के महीने में ही गर्मी लगनी शुरू हो जाती है। अभी जून का महीना चल रहा है और तुफान के साथ गर्मी और बरसात दोनों झेलने पड़ रहे हैं।

शुद्ध पर्यावरण का मतलब है गांव

गांव का नाम आते ही दिमाग में "हरियाली' आती है। जहां बाग़-बगीचे होते हैं। जहां बड़े से पीपल के पेड़ के नीचे पंचायत होती है। हर घर के आगे फूलों की क्यारियां होती हैं। वहां के लोग पेड़ों से प्यार करते हैं। हर साल 60 से 70 पेड़ गांव के लोगों द्वारा लगाए जाते हैं। राज्य सरकार द्वारा भी "पौधा रोपण' का फंड पंचायत में आता है। नदियां साफ़ की जाती हैं।

पौधा रोपण से रोजगार

इस वैश्विक महामारी के दौरान बहुत सारे शिक्षित और अशिक्षित लोग बेरोजगार हो गए। खेती करने और पौधारोपण करने से इन लोगों को रोजगार मिल रहा है। बाढ़ आने वाले महीने में किसानों ने बाजरा की खेती छोड़ कर, एलोविरा की खेती करना शुरू कर दी है। क्योंकि 2 महीने बाढ़ के पानी में एलोविरा ख़राब नहीं होता है। कुछ लोग आम, अमरूद और पपीता की खेती कर पैसे कमा रहे हैं।

पौधे लगाने की अनूठी मुहिम

बिहार के आरा जिला के गांव सुन्दरपुर बरजा में एक अनूठी मुहीम चली है। जिस किसी के घर शिशु जन्म लेगा वो एक पौधा लगाएगा। अभी तक काफी पौधे लग चुके हंै और लोगों की पर्यावरण के प्रति यह अनोखी पहल पर्यावरण प्रेमियों और बुद्धिजीवियों के बीच तारीफें बटोंर रही है।

मेरे गांव के आंगन का वह पेड़

मेरे गांव के घर के आंगन में मेरी दादी द्वारा लगाया गया एक गागल निम्बू का पेड़ है। यह पेड़ तब लगा था, जब मेरे पापा का जन्म हुआ। इस खुशी में मेरी दादी ने एक पेड़ लगा दिया। मेरे पापा के साथ-साथ वह गागल निम्बू का पेड़ हरा-भरा है। इसे हर रोज देख कर दिल खुश हो जाता है। •