Jalandhar, September 22
In a feeble yet invincible voice, environmentalist Mr Sunderlal Bahuguna exhorted the Army personnel and children of Army schools to stand steadfast as sainiks to protect trees around them. He spoke at length on protecting the ecological balance of the Himalayan region during the opening session of a two-day conservation festival at Jalandhar Cantonment.
The warrior against deforestation and sentry of the Himalayas, Mr Bahuguna said: “Himalayas are the biggest source of water. But we have parched them. The glaciers have become thinner. With rising temperature and melting of snow, there has been a tremendous loss of water. Our rivers have been reduced to seasonal nullahs”.
“Indian culture originated from forests. We must save them and plant more trees. They give us five Fs – food, fodder, fuel, fibre and fertilizers”, said the 79-year-old Magsaysay Award winner for launching the Chipko Movement to protect trees.
“Bhagat Puran Singh was the first man to bring awareness on tree cultivation in Punjab. Trees also give us medicines. The US people, however, have dubbed agriculture as an industry and that is why the environment there is not stable”, he stressed.
Attired in a crumpled white kurta and sporting a white scarf on his head with a prophet’s beard, Mr Bahuguna advocated a three A’s formula for saving water – alternatives to water intensive crops, austerity measures in water use and afforestation. “Austerity is needed not only in agriculture but also in industry. Industries make intensive use of water and pollute water as well”, he emphasised.
“Dams have only acted as temporary solutions to permanent problems. We would have supported its construction at Tehri in Garhwal if it would have benefitted crores of population even at the cost of bringing loss to a few lakh people. It has led to ouster of 25,000 people and devastation of one of the most sacred and beautiful Himalayan landscapes”, he said counting the faults in the project.
“It will uproot the forests of Tehri and deprive the Himalayas of water while benefitting the rich farmers of western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi residents. The authorities said the dam will withstand earthquakes. But these hills will not. If the dam breaks, within hours the entire region will be wiped out”, he added.
On the role of government, Mr Bahuguna emphatically said, “All noble works are accomplished without the support of the government. Guru Nanak did not need any support from government for bringing in a revolution nor did Gautam Buddha.”
Mr Bahuguna was accompanied by his wife, Ms Bimla Bahuguna, a devoted and determined social activist. Ms Bahuguna said she married her husband after taking a commitment from him that he would leave politics, which he did a little before their marriage in 1956. “Since then we have been living in remote areas trying to light up the lives of women who toil hard and get nothing in return. We have been living in Tehri for the last 17 years.
“Of late, we have helped the tribal population of Gorakhpura who are being forced out of jungles. We have just held a rally with a turn out of more than 5000 to 7000 people”, she said.
