Mumbai: On the backdrop of World Environment Day which was observed on June 5, city experts, environmentalists and naturalists shared their heart out about environment at a panel discussion on combatting climate change — balancing sustainability and development which was organised by Observer Research Foundation and presented by the Free Press Journal in collaboration with the Consulate of Canada.
The panel discussion was preceded by a documentary film, The Force of Nature, by Canadian scientist David Suzuki which focused on technology and environment directly affecting our daily lives. Tara Scheurwater, acting consul general for Canada in India, said India is showing tremendous commitment in treating plastic and is hopeful the country will serve as an example.
“On an average, a single-use plastic bag is used only for 12 seconds which should be stopped. But because of initiatives from (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, there is awareness among the people,” she said. The panel members spoke on a variety of topics ranging from the problem infrastructure in the city to planned political intervention in development and environmental issues.
The discussion was orchestrated by environmentalist Gautam Kirtane who questioned experts on viability of Mumbai Metro and the ambitious coastal road project which will garland the city. Ashok Datar, an authority on city transport and founder of Mumbai Environment Social Network, said people are mistaken if they feel a metro or coastal road will solve every problem of Mumbaikars. “Even the famed suburban railway network and public transport, which are the cheapest mode of transport, cannot decongestant the city, how can an expensive mode of transport do what other sources could not? This only means that if they want to eat into forestland, it is to promote private vehicle ownership and not improving public transport,” Datar said.
Countering the point was Rishi Agarwal, founder-director of Mumbai Sustainability Centre. “We are already 3-4 decades behind as far as metro rail is concerned. It should have come way back. But although it will help only a little, even that is a good number for Mumbaikars. Besides, the institutions and lobbies are so politically rigged that they will have their way no matter what we think,” Agarwal rued. Discussing on other questions were R N Bhaskar, consulting editor, Money Control and Free Press Journal, and Ameya Pimpalkhare.
“The man, in a brief span of stay in the world, has destroyed so much which has been going on for millions of years. This shows where we are heading. We need to wake up,” said Bhaskar. Pimpalkhare said the governmental should set examples by adopting environmental methods in their own institutions which will give a fillip to the citizens.