[ಕನ್ನಡ ಅನುವಾದ ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಬರಲಿದೆ — Kannada translation coming soon]
Just three air pollution facts given by the UN should shock us into action. 92% of people worldwide are unable to breathe clean air. Air pollution costs the global economy 5 trillion dollars every year in welfare costs. Ground level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26% by 2030. While we should think globally, we should act locally. But do we? How many of us are agitated about the climate change ( air pollution is just one component)? In Mysuru we have already started to feel the first signs of climate change. Lingambudi lake has gone dry this season. Kukkerhalli is on its death bed. Chamundi Hills are vandalized in the name of “development”. Parks in Mysusu are in poor state. Trees are felled without giving much thought. It looks as though we take greater pleasure in felling trees than planting them. With ever increasing number of vehicles on Mysuru roads, air pollution is increasing every day. While we have not yet reached the danger levels of cities like Bengaluru, it will come sooner than we think. Unfortunately our Mysuru Master Plan did not find it necessary to deal with this impending disaster. Even in this scene of darkening clouds affecting the environment, we have some positive development. City’s five schools have taken up Environmental School Warden Project to keep Mysuru green and clean. Unlike previous years, city’s environmentalists are getting ready to celebrate WED not just on one day but throughout the planting season involving all Mysureans. In early part of May under the leadership of former MLA Made Gowda and President of Vidya Vardhak Sangh, Gundappa Gowda several meetings have been held to mobilize activists, industries, corporators, labour unions, educational institutions and individuals to plant trees on a massive number (at least 7000) in Hebbal area. Vision is to make Hebbal area consisting of seven wards as the greenest in Mysuru. Unlike previous years, the Deputy Commissioner, Abhiram Shankar has been coordinating efforts well before June 5th to involve city’s leading
environmentalists, several government institutions, NGOs, and educational institutions to take the challenge of planting and protecting trees. During previous WEDs, planting was often an photo-op. This year more emphasis is given to protect the trees once planted. 10 Years back it is in this kind of barren land Infosys developed the forest where their their campus is located in Deralakatte, Dakshina Kannada. One new idea suggested by Ashvini Ranjan is to implement urban forest in some selected MCC parks. Concept of planting urban forest is far more efficient than planting the same number of individual trees to protect the environment. There are many competing ideas to choose from. Often mentioned Miyawaki developed in Japan and is being popularized by Afforestt and some NGOs in India is one such technique. Technique developed by Infosys to develop urban forestry in their Nethra Campus near Mangalore appears to be far simpler and suitable for Mysuru’s conditions and is being considered by different stakeholders.
Current state of the forest developed by Infosys in their 360 acres campus. There are few environmental activists who are supporting tree planting in their individual capacity. This became obvious during a meeting held on May 27 at Forest department to get suggestions from the public to celebrate vanamahotsva. To give some example Jayadurgaa Siddharthan has supplied saplings to plant at Herbal Lake, C. Krishna has a nursery in his factory premises, Srikant Raje Urs has been active in promoting exotic flower plants in Mysuru giving free saplings. K. S. Venkatesh, an active environmentalist has also been knocking at the door of institutions (Police Academy, Railways, Colleges, schools, owners of vacant land etc) to get ready to plant trees by digging pits. While the above sounds encouraging, we need much more involvement from Mysureans. Every Mysurean needs to feel that it is his or her responsibility to green Mysore. Unless we have such a societal commitmment, it is impossible to plant lakhs of trees to green the city.
One critical requirement for this to happen is to involve every educational institution of the city by urging ‘ALL teachers’ to spend some time telling the students on the importance of trees in fighting pollution. Trees improve water supply, and promote population of birds, bees, and other animals to maintain ecological balance. By one estimate value of a well grown tree can be as high as rupees six to seven crores and an average tree may be worth about Rs. 50 lakhs. Is it easy to justify felling a tree when it is worth so much? While we get ready to celebrate WED, it is important that Mysureans recognize some activists who have taken extra ordinary interest to preserve the environment of the city. One such unsung hero is Banu Mohan. She is an activist who is ever ready to prevent the illegal felling of trees when informed by any one in any part of the city at any time. She has also planted several trees in different areas of the city. If the barren land of Vidya Vardhak is green today, credit goes to its president, Gundappa Gowda. Every vanamahotsava he plants trees in his campus even in a parking lot. Tree guards donated by Raghavan of Raghulal is ubiquitous in every corner of the city. Since several years with noble objective of greening the city he has taken interest to protect trees. In a quiet corner of Ramkrsihna Nagar, Sreekant despite his busy schedule has developed a MUDA park where he has a nursery to give 20 to 30 thousand saplings a year to any one interested in planting. He has succeeded in involving youngsters in helping him in the activity on a voluntary basis – a remarkable achievement. While celebrating WED this year, every Mysurean should resolve to protect and plant trees inspired by the selfless service of these four. Let us hope that we will discover many more such outstanding activists in coming years. (May 23, 2019) A coffee table book to inspire conservation efforts SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MYSURU, DECEMBER 29, 2019 21:46 IST