Planting a sapling on World Environment Day has become an extremely generic and symbolic gesture that serves little purpose. Growing more trees is important, but merely putting a few spadefuls of mud over a sapling and then pouring water over it is a photo opportunity that the political class has perfected, and it is this that is nothing less than an useless gesture. As a test case, would any politician be able to tell the people the status of the sapling planted by him or her a year ago or a decade ago? Have the saplings planted 10 years ago grown into trees or did they dry up due to no care and no nourishment? It is pointless to plant a sapling and then not nurture it in the early period of its growth. Like any other plant it too requires similar tending in the early months and years.
Saplings have been planted but the silence on the three linear projects on this day, projects that will result in the felling of thousands of trees, indicates just how serious is the polity on protecting the environment. The linear projects have turned into a political issue, with the opposition using it to make promises they will never be able to keep, and the government either keeping mum on the issue or making statements in favour of the projects. As a result, the people have not had any serious assurance on this, not on this day or on any other.
Simultaneously, the government has been announcing that mining operations will soon restart. This will no doubt give the economy a major boost while also putting money into the pockets of the mining dependents who have been jobless for years. But, has there been any study to determine the effects on the environment that can then result in a plan so that the wrong practices of the past are not repeated? Again, there has been no assurance on this. The State merely plods forward with announcements that mining operations will restart soon.
Whether it is World Environment Day or World Biodiversity Day or Earth Day, there is merely symbolism in view and no tangible plans, though it is more of the latter that is required and much less of the former. In the current scenario, where the social media becomes a medium to showcase the politician’s work, planting a sapling is the perfect photo opportunity for then posting on the Internet.
Will such days be merely utilised for symbolic acts or will they become more meaningful? They can become the latter only if the people pressure the polity to take such days seriously. Unless there is a people’s movement it cannot happen, one can’t only expect the same guardians of the environment who have continuously fought to preserve the environs we live in to take up the good fight. They have been doing it, they deserve to be feted and not taken for granted.
Just a week ago on Satehood Day the Goa government felicitated many who have contributed towards the growth of Goa in the past decades. Ironically, there was no environmentalist there, though these individuals have played a massively important role in saving the environment for future generations. Their contribution is as valued, if not much more valued, then that of some of those who were felicitated by the government on that day. On World Environment Day these men and women who have stood for the environment deserved to be remembered. The State may have forgotten them but the common man who has benefitted from their hard work will not let them be forgotten.
Goa has missed yet another opportunity to make World Environment Day work for it. But given the manner in which the environment is under threat, it requires not just a day dedicated to the ambient but an entire year. Only that may save the environment.
