Centre’s environment exhibition turns into a farce, pollution board ignores own guidelines 

The government’s exhibition on World Environment Day derided the theme in many ways. The structure was erected by using plastic-like flex sheets and the display panels too were of the same material

NH photo
NH photo
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Mahendra Pandey

As a global host for World Environment Day 2018, the Government of India organised an exhibition from June 2-5 at India Gate Lawns, to showcase the measures taken for environmental protection by public and private enterprises and also by the government itself.

The exhibition itself degraded the environment in many ways. The whole structure was erected by using flex-like sheets and also all the display panels were flex sheets. These sheets are considered similar to plastics as far as biodegradability is concerned. It is obvious that after exhibition, these sheets would be a part of the garbage.

The parking was in a dusty area, without grass patches. With every vehicular movement, dust was blown into the area. It is much common and even NGT direction is there to sprinkle water on such area for dust suppression, but it was not done. Just beyond the parking area was a large stretch of land where dry branches and leaves were thrown and between them were patches of waste plastics, and still the government talked about “beat plastic waste” with ease.


Centre’s environment exhibition turns into a farce, pollution board ignores own guidelines 
The garbage strewn around the exhibition area

The air quality monitoring guidelines as prepared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) tells that the air quality monitoring instruments should be placed at a height of more than one metre. The monitoring at exhibition area was done by CPCB at exhibition area after neglecting its own guideline for height. The instrument was placed in a dusty area and on the ground. On the other hand all the so called “silent” diesel generator sets used for the exhibition were violating the noise norms as its impact was felt even across the road.

All the large and shining stalls at the exhibition were occupied by private and public sector companies known not for environmental protection but for its degradation. Clean energy was also a topic of the exhibition, as one exclusive pavilion was dedicated to it, but not a single solar lamp or solar appliance was used for exhibition.

Modi, in his speech highlighted almost all issues in his speech, except the great air pollution problem in Delhi and the other cities of the country. It may be that he does not consider air pollution a problem at all. He spoke about the achievements of Namami Gange, although the cleaning of river Ganga is visible to only him. Several recent reports tell the pathetic situation of river Ganga at Varanasi, his constituency. As per his speech, all new schemes have environmental protection as major component, but results are not visible. He spoke about one percent rise in forest area and also on protection of wild life. The leopard coming to urban areas almost every alternative days is enough to tell about how much habitat we have left for wildlife.

It is said that executive director of United Nations-Environment was very happy with the events. The events may be grand, but what about our environmental commitments? An interview published in National Herald is enough to display his thoughts on the environment. While comparing the environmental protection measures taken by China and India, he firmly said that China has reduced the pollution levels in rivers and curtailed 30 to 40 percent air pollution in cities. For India, he has not quoted anything except “only India can solve its own environmental problems”.

Despite organising a grand event to celebrate World Environment Day, the government should have done something concrete for environmental protection.

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