‘There should be fixed days with no human activity’

Ludhiana: Every year, June 5 is observed as World Environment Day. But this year, it is totally different due to coronavirus pandemic. Almost everywhere, people are confined to the four walls of their homes due to lockdown prompted by Covid-19. But even during these times, environmentalists think that even if the usual activity of planting saplings may not be done, yet we should try to save whatever we have.
Balwinder Singh Lakhewali, a resident of BRS Nagar and who serves as deputy director, Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), said, “The air quality index has seen a sea change over the last two months and it has improved drastically. Earlier, it was no less than 250 and now it doesn’t cross 100. Nature has revived and water bodies have started getting cleaner. Now, animals and birds which were rarely seen can be spotted. Even common ones like owls and sparrows are being seen in great numbers.”
Lakhwali has involved his daughters Roop (8) and Seerat (12) in spreading the message on saving environment through social media. Lakhewali said, “Just like students have winter and summer breaks, to maintain the environment peace, we need to have particular days when human activities should remain off. There should be no vehicular moment and industrial activities. Our lifestyle has majorly impacted environment and children should be guided accordingly for the same.”
Another green crusader, Ravneet Singh, of BRS Nagar and project manager, South Asia at Eco Sikh, an NGO, has planted 34 Guru Nanak Sacred Forests at various locations of the district, including eight at Nanaksar, four each at Sajjan and Payal and Laddian Khurd, two at Mullanpur and one each at Focal Point,Tajpur, Tibba Road, Mattewara, Palam Vihar, Gehlewal, Kaind, Verka and Khanna. Delhi Public School, Ryan International School and Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College have also planted such forests.
He said , “These forests are doing very well and the environment has improved a lot ever since human activities have come to a halt. However, we are going back to the old state. So, to keep it in a better way, one day lockdown should be mandate, where we should stop such activities. At least for a day, we can compensate for damaging our environment by making people aware of saving it. There should be a government policy on the same.
While Brij Mohan, an environmentalist who is working as SDO horticulture with PWD, said, “Even air of places with worst AQI was breathable and environment had shown that the resilient nature can heal. Major source of pollution is vehicles and industry. Now, we have to cut on use of vehicles, by pooling and using more of public transport. If we want to breath good air we need to sacrifice. We have to reduce carbon footprints in any form like less consumption of clothing, vehicles and using 3 R’s (recycle , reuse and reduce).”
Another environment saviour, Amarjeet Singh of Major Jagir Singh Vir Chakra Road, suggested, “Firstly, instead of thinking of planting anything new this environment day, we should preserve whatever we have. In the present situation it is important to concentrate on taking care of old plants as the survival rate of saplings palnted in the city is just 10%. We can think of areas which need plantation and plant saplings there.”