The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Time to teach netas some green lessons
Vishal Gulati
Tribune News Service

To questions: Are politicians concerned about environmental changes around them or have they made environment and ecology election issues, the answer is a big no.

But even as they remain apathetic, issues like shrinking lakes, declining flora and fauna and increasing air and water pollution are worrying green activists. They say though environment-related issues may have succeeded in getting space in news columns, the fact remains that these are yet to find a place in the election manifestos of the political parties.

It’s time for the electorate to teach some “green” lessons to politicians, says Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, who had got Kali Bein cleaned with active participation of the community in 2000. He succeeded in cleaning the 170-km stretch of the river.

“Save water, save life,” says Baba Seechewal. He says it is time to sensitise the common man about the importance of water. With the rise in population, change in lifestyle and urbanisation, the groundwater level is sinking.

He highlights the plight of majority of rivers that have now been reduced to a sewer. Wetlands are also dying slowly. On the face of it, it seems that the wetlands are rich in biodiversity, but human interference is eating into their flora and fauna.

Incidences of filling up of wetlands for development projects are common. He says encroachments on the banks of the wetlands should be removed.

The Kar Sewa, Khadoor Sahib, Tarn Taran district, is another religious organisation that is also concerned about the depleting flora and fauna. It launched a plantation drive in 1999.

“It is time for the politicians to understand the nuances of ecology and environment. Trees make the earth a green heaven,” says Baba Sewa Singh, chief organiser, Kar Sewa.

“Every year a large number of trees are cut to make way for roads and buildings. So, our aim should be to plant saplings throughout the year,” he adds.

The sect has so far succeeded in growing nearly 50,000 trees of indigenous species like neem, banyan, jamun and peepal in Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

For a UK-based NRI, Mr Ram Singh Dhesi, who is running an NGO, Savi Dharti, the government is not serious towards ecological issues. No political party has an agenda on environment-related issues. He is concerned about the deteriorating flora and fauna and increasing pollution.

He points out that the rivers of Punjab are facing an ecological crisis as the pollution level has increased, resulting in threat to people and aquatic creatures.

The Lambra-based NGO has planted one lakh saplings in various areas of Punjab.

Mr Umendra Dutt, Executive Director, Kheti Virasat Mission, Jaito, says the story of depleting water-table is scripted by shortsighted planning and government indifference towards the problem.

Excessive exploitation of groundwater is a major reason of acute drinking water shortage in many districts of Punjab, he adds.

“If we don’t show urgency about the need to protect natural resources, there might not be enough resources to worry or protect later,” the environmentalist says with a sigh.

Young World
Lohri celebrated with gaiety in city schools
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Eklavya School celebrated Lohri on Saturday. The school was decorated with charts, balloons and kites. Students presented a cultural programme which included dances on the tunes of “Moddeyan te rakh dangan”, “Maar udaari” and “Lohri geet”. Children enjoyed the programme with peanuts, popcorn, gachak and reoris and had fun around the bonfire.

Lohri was celebrated at Sanskriti KMV School. Dr Rita Bawa, principal lit the bonfire. Students sang songs and danced around the bonfire. A sports event was also organised for the children of Classes I to III. Students took part in lemon and spoon race, relay race, 50 and 100 mts races, long jump, high jump, discus throw and javelin throw.

St Soldier Divine Public School Nurmahal celebrated Lohri with much fanfare. Mr Naresh Kumar, Principal, lit the fire. Students danced on the song, “Jadon vi aundi hai Lohri, khusian le aundi hai Lohri” and went on to many more foot -tapping numbers . Groundnuts and reoris were distributed among students.

National contest

Police DAV Public School participated in national folk song competition and national group song contest organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad at Nasik on January 6 and 7. The school bagged fifth and seventh positions, respectively. Both the teams were awarded medals. As many as 35 teams from the country participated in the contest. The team comprised of Somali Vij, Himani, Loveleen, Divya, Sugandha, Tanvi, Anandita and Milan. Ms Teena, a teacher, accompanied the students. Ms Rashmi Vij, Principal, has congratulated the students.

Vivekananda anniversary

To mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a function was organised at MGN College of Education. Principal, Dr Amit Kauts, portrayed him as a role model for the youth. The congregation was marked by orations on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. A vivid picture on his life was compiled by Rohini. Mandeep Kaur, a B.Ed student.

Student awarded

Virendar Pal Kaur, a student of PG diploma in Commercial Arts, Apeejay College of Fine Arts, has bagged the role model for the year 2006-07 title during the celebration of National Youth Day at Ludhiana on January 12 . She was conferred the title by the Swami Vivekananda Study Circle keeping in view her academic record, excellence in the field of art and contribution to social service. She stood second in Guru Nanak Dev University in BA (honours) and first in MA (fine arts).

She has won many prizes in painting and poster making contests and is a recipient of college roll of honour award in academics, social and cultural activities. She had recently also organised solo exhibition of her paintings at Ludhiana.

Sports meet

An inter-departmental sports meet was organised by the Department of Higher Studies, Lovely Institutes. The meet was inaugurated by Mr Rajinder Singh, former national coach, Indian Hockey Team (Olympic). Students from five streams ,including commerce, physiotherapy, biotechnology, computers and B. Design participated in the meet. Commerce department emerged champion in the cricket tournament. Overall trophy for athletic meet was bagged by Department of Physiotherapy.

Polio immunisation

The cadets of NCC (Army and Air wings) of Sain Dass A.S. Senior Secondary School, Patel Nagar, participated in pulse polio immunisation campaign on January 7 during which they administered drops to hundreds of infants at Arya Samaj Mandir, Mai Hiran Gate and Mahalaxmi Mandir on Jail Road.

National seminar

BD Arya Girls’ College will organise a two-day seminar on music from January 17 onwards.

The seminar will consist of four technical sessions and performances by acclaimed resource persons.

Directors of Doordarshan and All India Radio will be the main guests. The seminar will feature genres like thumri, ghazal, theatre, sitar and tabla vadan.

Seminar

The Postgraduate Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Doaba College, organised a seminar titled “Media: Its socio-ethical obligations” on Tuesday.

Key speaker Prof B.K. Kuthiala, chairperson, Institute of Mass Media Studies, Kurukshetra University, emphasized that “Negativism may be essential for the media but too much of it could completely damage the social fabric . He suggested the formation of Media Council of India.

Guest of honour Ashok Malik, Assistant Editor, Dainik Tribune, said that the credibility of media was dependent on extent of freedom it enjoyed in reporting news.

He said that journalism today was not what it was about 25 years ago .Mediapersons can still try to develop their own ethical values.

Speakers from universities in Sirsa, Garhwal, Panchkula and Pune addressed the gathering. Staff and students from GND University regional campus, Ladhewali, Jalandhar, and Punjabi University, Patiala, also attended the seminar.

Good luck party

Saffron Public School organised a good luck party for Classes IX and X . Students of Class IX displayed various cultural items during the show. Class X students contested for Mr and Miss Saffron titles which went to Yatin Chadda and Ruchika Malhotra, respectively. Teachers also participated in the party as they presented ghazals, geets and dances. Ms Sandeepa Sood, Principal, also wished the students good luck.