Yet another World Environment Day observed
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 06, 2022 -

UNTIL now, Manipur is fortunate enough that the damages caused to properties, standing crops, etc., from periodically occurrences of natural disasters due to disturbance in the eco-system have been not been widespread and the number of lives and livestock lost negligible.

In fact, few people have lost their lives due to landslides and flash floods, which in many parts of the world generally leave a trail of destructions.

Considering the fact that there is no man-made barrier as yet firm enough to stop the effect of global warming, one cannot rest assured that Manipur would remain immune from the impact of daily degeneration of the environmental condition.

For instance, rainfall-induced flooding had been common phenomena during the monsoons every year in the valley parts of Manipur since time immemorial, albeit, differently in terms of intensity, but the large-scale destruction caused to farmlands as well as human lives lost to massive landslides in the last few years ring out the message that grimmer days are imminent sooner than later if the core idea of observing the World Environment Day could not be digested by all sections of the society.

Around seven years back, hill areas under Ukhrul, Kangpokpi and Senapati districts faced unprecedented widespread landslides or mudslides and flooding, making it crystal clear that the wrath of monsoons wouldn't be confined to any specific geographical location.

Occurrences of natural disasters can't be predicted precisely but the scale and intensity of damages signify graveness of disturbance caused to the eco-system, mainly due to unsustainable extraction of the natural resources.

The severe heat wave being experienced this year in many parts of India and repeated occurrences of landslides during the recent pre-monsoon rainfall in some hill areas of Manipur testified that the thrust on infrastructure development has not incorporated policies to help maintain the ecological balance and the awareness programmes to spur tree plantation activities haven't impressed those who matter the most.

From 'Beat Plastic Pollution', etc., in the preceding years to 'Only One World' for this year, themes and host nations for the World Environment Day observances have been changing every year to drive home the message across the international communities that all endeavours for achieving economic and military prowess need to strike a balance with Mother Nature and the awareness campaigns on purpose of the observance should reach every nook and corner.

It is obvious that United Nations wouldn't randomly adopt the observance themes or chose the hosts but such decision is intended to make policy makers of the developed, developing and globally influential nations to do the needful before impact of the indiscreet industrialisation agenda to become economic and military superpowers spiral out of hand.

Since its general assembly resolution in the early 1970s to hold the World Environment Day, the UN has been highlighting the consequences of large-scale structural development activities to the environment and seeking pro-active role of the developed nations in reversing the trend of global warming.

The observance, though dominated by tree plantation and awareness activities, is basically meant to remind the governments on the importance to focus on environment, how it affects people's health, work out policies for a cleaner, safer and sustainable planet where every citizen could live in harmony with nature.

In Manipur's context of the evolving situation, replenishing the forest covers should undoubtedly top the agenda of the policy makers to help reduce the imminent impact of global warming.

Moreover, equal emphasis should be given towards making the roads, at-least in the capital city, pothole-free to encourage public transporters to operate battery-powered lighter vehicles, ensure availability of LPG distribution agencies nearest to settlement areas in the hills for hill dwellers are certain to opt for the age-old practice of using firewood if reaching the refill outlets necessitates additional expenditure and physically exhaustive, and convince all the communities to get involved in tree plantation drives, to mention a few preventive measures.