SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Life is moving at its own pace, whether you care about your surroundings or not. Our surroundings consist of both living and non-living things such as air, water, soil, and terrestrial, aquatic, and aerial animals. In other words, everything that is present around us is known as our surroundings or environment.

We are living in an environment that is the result of our ancestors’ activities. In the same way, future generations will live in an environment that will be the result of our activities as ancestors. At present, we are richer in technology and education compared to previous generations. We can do almost anything, and everything is available within our comfort zone. However, our excessive needs are not only destroying our present but also harming the future of coming generations.

For the past two decades or more, the government has been trying to plant more and more trees. Roadside green belts are extremely important not only for us but also for future generations. Crores of plants are planted every year. Green belts are compulsory for large houses, but even people with small houses should plant trees or plants in flowerpots. We must adopt plantation as a habit and also make future generations aware of its importance.

This practice is very common in village areas. In villages, most families are involved in agriculture, so the next generation learns about it easily. Hybrid plants that grow straight are planted along the ridges of fields. These plants enrich the environment with oxygen and also support farmers economically. This practice is common in Western Uttar Pradesh, but awareness should be increased in the rest of the state.

Our universe works on the principle of give and take. Just as plants are necessary for us, we are also important for plants. The balance may vary, but the relationship is mutual. In the present scenario, human beings have become somewhat overconfident. We often think everything exists because of us, but this is not true. Although we have destroyed many forests for our needs, we have not fully compensated for the loss. Nature is reacting at regular intervals, and many people have suffered due to various reasons.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in many cities is at a dangerous level, yet people continue to move towards cities in search of better opportunities. Delhi and its surrounding areas, such as the NCR, have serious AQI problems. People are suffering from breathing issues and persistent cough.

Strategic planning should be implemented by the government to prevent such serious issues. The Yamuna River in Delhi is in a critical condition. Water should be released into the river only after proper sewage treatment. Excessive use of air conditioners is also a major factor contributing to rising temperatures in cities. Snowfall in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand is usually common in winter, but there have been irregularities in recent years due to global warming.

Overall, awareness is the key factor in protecting and improving our environment. We must learn and follow the principle of “Simple Living, High Thinking.”

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

J. P. Maurya