India Has To Lead Entire World: Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan

On June 15th, Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan exhorted the public to undertake environmentally-friendly activities every day and send details about it to the Ministry so that it can be publicised. He also added that 35 officials of his ministry would campaign to start a people's movement and take the cleanliness mission (Swachhta Abhiyaan) to the 125 crore people of the country.

Speaking at the concluding function of the ministry’s Swachhta Pakhwada (cleanliness fortnight) at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, he exhorted people to undertake one small environment-friendly act every day.

"Our motive is to create a big public movement under which we will create environment guardians across the country”, he said, adding that "We appeal to them (people) to make contributions to conservation of river, energy, trees, animal among others and we will put their contributions on our websites which we will be created soon by ministry”. He said that state forest officers, officials from other institutions under the ministry, school and college students, scouts and guides, NSS and common people will be involved in the movement.

He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of delivering a New India by 2022 and said that though Swachhta Pakhwada concluded today, the spirit of the campaign would continue uninterrupted throughout the year.

“The world is looking with hope towards India,” he said as the entire world discusses issues related to climate change, global warming and environment protection. "The world believes that India’s culture and philosophy possess the inspiration and energy, which can spell welfare of the entire mankind.” he said, adding that "Protection of environment, forests, nature and rivers has been taught to us by our ancestors. The inherent richness and strength of our culture is our legacy. The day we renew the pledge to protect the environment, we will be able to regain the old glory”.

“Modi has said that the threat of global warming and climate change is looming large on the entire world and to fight it, India has to lead the entire world,” he added.

The environment minister also asked the Delhi National Zoological Park Director to make the facility a world-class one.

Environment secretary Ajay Narayan Jha said that the ministry has an ecosystem in each state, comprising various institutions including Central and State Pollution Control Boards, Forest Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, Eco-clubs NGOs and this strength needs to be connected to the cleanliness campaign.

Another feature of Swachhta Pakhwada included cleaning of four railway stations by the Science Express Climate Action Special train, which is presently running in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Dr Harsh Vardhan also administered a green pledge to reuse and reduce the waste, plant more trees and conserve energy and water, on the occasion.