Nurturing Environment Calls For Tree & Water Conservation
- Part 1 -

S Kunjabihari *

Water scarcity : Water distribution at Lilando Lampak, Chingamakha in May 2014 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The WHO has listed Tezpur, a non-descript city of Assam as the least polluted city in the country as per its latest 'Ambient (outdoor) Air Pollution in Cities' data-base released last month. Air quality is measured in terms of the presence of annual mean concentration of particular matter (PM10 and PM 2.5 i.e. particles smaller than 10 or 2.5 microns) in the air that people breathe.

Tezpur recorded 6 annual mean of microgram per cubic meter in terms of PM 2.5. It recorded 11 of PM 10. Guwahati recorded PM 2.5 of 49, with Shillong PM 2.5 of 35. The main difference between PM 10 and 25 is the size of the particles. P 2.5 particles comprise particles automobiles emanate, toxic compounds. The course particles of PM 10 comprise smoke, dirt and dust from factories, farms and construction of roads.

Our Imphal is nowhere near that level of cleanliness or purity of air, water or noise. The annual average of concentration of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) in 2007 (for which record is at hand), is 70.3ug/M3, considered beyond the permissible level. During dry days of November- January, the level reaches an average of 90; December being highest at 104.

Similarly, the Ambient Noise Level (ANL), at traffic peak hours is said to be much above the prescribed mark. The vehicular emission is considered to be the principal component of air pollution. With 4000 odd auto rickshaws alone plying in urban Imphal, added to the other 4 lakh around four wheelers, the level of RSPM by now should be considerably higher. One hears about petrol autos being converted to CNG mode in Delhi and other metro cities.

On measures to repair, even to some extent, the sustained damage to the environment, Sundarlal Bahuguna, Padma-Vibhushan awardee, a noted environmental activist, did observe, "There is need to go back to planting varieties that are native to the local landscape—trees like walnuts or those with broad leaves should be encouraged now". He was referring to the forests of Uttarkhand recently hit by forest fires that raged on for days.

Continuing, he said, "Primary problem lies in rampant and commercial plantation of trees on the hills—for instance, pine wood. The natural flora and fauna was tempered with because pine, though, was an excellent source of wood and charcoal it leaves no space for wild animals to roam and added to that harm, pine combs also burn easily. The tree not only soaks up moisture from the ground, it's also a key contributor to high levels of acidity in the soil".

Naturally therefore one of the major components towards this goal could be urgent measures for planting locally adaptable breeds. The locals particularly the land owners say, in our context, the hills, should be given opportunities to choose tree varieties of their choice. This would naturally enthuse the locals; participation rate would be high, naturally therefore, the survival rate too would be high. The only precondition should be that the trees would belong to the land owners, not the forest department. Yes, the government could impose certain restrictions like trees cannot be cut down at will or before acquiring maturity of certain prescribed standard or age as can be fixed by the appropriate authority.

Another advantage often, tremendous, to the benefit of ecology, is the scope for large scale water conservation on the hills, on the plains or any available place. Water as a finite natural resource needs to be conserved, protected to stop or reduce at the least, the increasing depletion of ground water across the state. We may recall the experience of the Singda dam authority a couple of years back.

The drying of Singda Water engulfing the Imphal city areas awakened the conscience of the CM for mass afforestation program on the entire belt of the catchment areas. If I remember correct, the CM ordered for immediate plantation of 5 lakh trees on the villages up front within a span of one month, April to May of the year.

This satirical order, for that matter, any plantation programme can be projectized as consisting of, i) associating the villagers on the catchment areas in this case or the other places ii) identifying plots/areas, Iii) formation of village committees for pit digging/formation, iv) identifying suitable breeds/varieties of saplings, v) actual field planting and vi) assignment of responsibilities to the natives to ensure survival. To my information, the month-long drive was bereft of any such comprehensive delineation exercise.

The survival of the randomly chosen saplings is therefore a suspect from the very stage of conception. How can any authority of the significance or insignificance of our forest department could afford 5 lakh plants that too in a span of 30 days, suitable for the hilly terrain in the catchment areas of Singda? The suitability should be important. We cannot just end up planting bougainvillea or bottle brush, eucalyptus or any such variety in the catchment areas of Singda. Any available plant one can lay hands on, could not possibly serve the proclaimed objective of retaining rain water. Even a survival of one lakh trees, let alone five lakh on the catchment area is a suspect considering the element of urgency tinged with total lack of any systematic plan. That works out to a poor 20% survival that too to be forgotten sooner than later.

On the other scale of the effort, he stories of planting a whooping 25 lakh saplings in and around Hyderabad, on a single day, mind you, in a span of 24 hours, to be precise in a matter of 10 hours, last fortnight should awaken us from our inherent slumber. Men and women from all walks of life, starting from the CM of Telengana K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Governor ESL Narasimhan, Ministers, Mayor of Hyderabad, civil and police personnel, public representatives including school and colleges, judges, celebrities etc. reportedly participated. Even, the former CEC, JM. Lyngdoh who chose to settle in Hyderabad after retirement, participated in the day-long plantation drive.

How they succeeded in roping such a huge participation of levels of people, how 25 lakh saplings were raised (possibly should have been planned 5-6 months in advance), are matters of details. The Telengana government launched a state-wide programme on July 8 to plant 46 crore this year to increase the green cover from existing 24 % to 33%. The cost is projected at Rs. 21 crore. The fact remains, however, that Hyderabad didn't lose the opportunity this year, the 67th Van Mahotsava month. We could take a leaf from them how to go about in times to come. Tragically, we do not obstinately learn.

The recent introduction of 'odd-even' scheme in the use of private cars on roads in Delhi has reportedly resulted to improving the air quality in Delhi. Plus the execution of levying environmental cess has added to improving quality of the atmosphere. The latest WHO report indicates that Delhi is no longer the most polluted city. In fact, according to it, Delhi drops from 1st rank i.e. world's most polluted city to the 11th spot recently, thanks to initiation of environment-friendly string of measures and strictures on many concerned sectors. The position is not rosy as yet for an integrated India. In WHO's 2014 report, 13 of the 20 most polluted cities were in our country. It is reported that the world's city dwellers breathe poor quality air, day in day out. We are among top bracket.

Things are not as yet really comfortable at the global level and we cannot for sure, afford to ignore this looming menace. In a sample of selected mega-cities with population above 14 million the world over, the WHO study reported that New Delhi had a distinctive rank of the most polluted city just above Dhaka our immediate neighbor. Forget Delhi or Cairo or Dhaka, we so called urban residents of low- and middle-income countries, India not an exception; breathe air which fails to meet the UN body's prescribed standards.

A report of Central Pollution Control Board suggests all is not lost in India's battle to improve air quality. Levels of PM 10, or coarse particles, have dipped over time in some cities perhaps possibly on account of transition to superior vehicle emission standards. This position is likely to improve further in the context of stringent prescriptions fixed by the SC recently in regard to level of vehicular emissions in core areas.

Earlier this year in May, the Apex Court refused to extend the April 30 deadline for taxi operators to switch over to less polluting CNG fuel. It was earlier ordered that all taxis operating in Delhi and National Capital Territory needed to switch over to CNG mode to make Delhi's air livable. Once implemented in full, since most of the taxis in Delhi estimated at around 1 lakh would cease to emit the more toxic fumes, the quality of air is likely to improve.

This July 21, the NGT ordered scrapping all diesel run vehicles that are 15 years and older. This ban so far the most formidable would hit 1, 80,000 diesel vehicles. The government would de-register all those that are 15 years and older. These measures would help in nurturing the environment to a considerable extent. The NGT is also stepping in the arena of swatch-mission. In a landmark judgment, it slapped a fine of Rs. 5 lakh on the Mathura DM for failing to prevent dumping of solid waste along the Yamuna river in Vrindavan. The Executive Officer of the Vrindavan Municipality Council was too similsrly imposed a fine of similar amount for the same negligence.

The great news of 2014-15 was the arrival of e-rickshaws in the B-town and the A-town suburbs. From the bursting markets of Cooch Behar or the busy roads of Ranchi to the congested by-lanes of Varanasi and the crowded streets of Noida, the e-rickshaws are quietly wooing the commuters. Pocket-friendly, most importantly, eco-friendly, these new inventions are sure to change the face of public transport across the country. The popularity index is at its best because of its emission-less and noise-less performance.

Why roads only, it has increasingly earned popularity on the campuses of IT companies, Universities and Hospitals in Bengaluru to start with. Though these modes of environment-friendly are denied on main roads of cities, these would find place in place of the pollution-friendly auto rickshaws. Even the sluggish cycle rickshaws are facing replacement in the times to come to decongest the roads.

The concern about looming menace of increasing pollution has reached the premises of the SC. In the recent past, the Apex court pulled up a lethargic bureaucracy in the centre, and had to observe, "You wake up from your slumber when someone comes out with a suggestion in court on the issue. What have you done so far? You need to be educated every time. …, then you say that you would take up". The stinging observation was brought in the context of informing the Supreme Court that there was technology available to make cars less polluting. ( to be continued).