It is a reflection of the times that we are living in that there is inevitably a political angle to people embracing the cause of the environment and wildlife. At the same time, a genuine love for the environment and wildlife attracts the moniker, ‘anti-development.’ Recently, when a pregnant elephant died tragically after eating a pineapple stuffed with crackers, the Centre responded immediately and ordered an investigation.
From Maneka Gandhi to an ordinary party worker, everyone in the BJP shed tears for this tragedy. But there was hardly anyone who mourned the deaths of migrant workers who died on highways due to hunger. This is not to say that we must neglect incidents such as the death of the elephant but to understand that we can prevent such tragedies in the future only if our tears and sorrow are genuine.
The day the elephant died tragically in Palakkad district, an environmental disaster occurred in Assam leaving its biodiversity completely vulnerable. The disaster was the result of leakage of natural gas from Oil India Limited (OIL), a nearby oil plant, that entered the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park near Baghjan in Assam and has not stopped since May 27.
Subsequently, a fire was also seen in the oil plant on June 10 and the fire is still raging. As a consequence of the leakage, two people lost their lives and more than 3000 locals have been evacuated. Even after the leak continued unabated for two weeks, the incident did not attract the attention of the mainstream media. Only after the death of two persons did the media turn its attention to the accident.
But this was nothing compared to the media focus on the Vishakapatnam chemical gas tragedy. On May 7, eight persons lost their lives in Vishakapatnam after poisonous chemicals leaked from LG Polymers. This accident created an atmosphere of fear in the coastal city so much that the media, in fact, compared this to the 1984 Bhopal gas leak.
After the massive forest fire in the Amazon forests in South America, the topic of environmental protection has captured the imagination of people all over the world and has given rise to a global debate. But this interest has brought to light another dimension to our obsessions with optics. Instead of spending time trying to understand the reasons for such accidents, we react to pictures and videos that go viral in the mainstream media and social media.
If a photograph from Amazon or Kerala can awaken our conscience, the photograph of the carcass of the endangered Gangetic Dolphins recovered in the Maguri-Motapung Beel swamp close to where the oil leak occurred in Assam should equally disturb us. The oil leak is bound to have a dangerous impact on the biodiversity of the area with innumerable variety of fish, snakes, birds, and other living organisms in the wetland area already having died after the oil leak.
The carcass of Gangetic Dolphins was found by the locals on May 31, four days after which the pregnant elephant was found dead in Kerala. Former minister Maneka Gandhi not only condemned the death of the elephant but tried to use the incident to create a communal divide. But the oil spillage in Assam that has had a devastating impact on the rich biodiversity of the area did not attract the attention of this wildlife activist. Other than a few people from the North East, no celebrity or wildlife activist or public personality has raised their voice about the biodiversity disaster in Assam.
Such selective responses lead us to wonder whether politicians value wildlife in the North East and whether they are even bothered about their survival. After the oil spillage, OIL, the public sector corporation, was slow in responding to the accident and much later invited foreign experts to provide suggestions on preventing the leak. By then, the damage caused to the local biodiversity and agricultural land was irreparable.
Assam has repeatedly seen attempts of industrialization that have been a cause of grave concern. Despite protests by various organizations, permission was granted to drill oil wells in seven areas near the same Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. The company argued that it would not conduct drilling operations in areas in eco-sensitive zones. A few days before this, the National Board for Wildlife (NBW) gave permission for coal mining, again in one of the most eco-sensitive zones, Dehing Patkayi Elephant Reserve Forest.
North East India has been in the news in recent days for several reasons. The dense forest area and the rich presence of mineral ore in the North East have caught the attention of industrialists. Thanks to the Adivasis and tribals in these parts who protect the forests, the North-Eastern states have retained their greenery and rich forest belts.
Citing the menace of Naxalism, the government is building national highways to favor big industries and also trying to prevent industrial accidents from getting publicized. We have reached a situation where we remember the North East only during Naxal operations.
On June 4, ten employees lost their lives, and more than 40 employees were injured in an explosion in a factory in Gujarat. The incident that occurred in the Prime Minister’s home state was covered up.
It’s very clear that those favoring a few corporate giants are behind such a cover-up. Today, we have reached a situation where enemy states do not have to attack India using missiles. The country has danger lurking in the form of several reactors and industries. If the government does not focus on their protection and safety, these symbols of development have the capacity to very well destroy our future.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Modi should leverage his ties with world leaders to de-escalate war in West Asia: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said India can play a meaningful role in de-escalation in West Asia, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong relations with the warring countries and their neighbours.
He said Pakistan was leveraging ties with Iran and the United States, and that any effort towards ending the war should be welcomed.
"As I said in the House (Assembly), we would like the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the prime minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He, however, said any escalation would not be easy to manage.
"Any such move by US President Donald Trump, despite the long history of Iran resisting external domination, would not be easy," the chief minister said.
Asked about Pakistan mediating in the war, he said, "I will simply say that if any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it."
He added, "I will repeat what I said … our prime minister has good and close relations with all countries — whether it is Israel, the United States, Iran, or the countries around Iran. If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help ease the situation, it would be a good thing."
Abdullah said attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, as suggested by a report from the United States, are not unlikely.
Meanwhile, he asserted that any efforts to end the war, be it from Pakistan, must not be resisted.
"Pakistan is using its good relations with Iran and the United States to its advantage, and it has done so. How can we object to that? If that angle helps in stopping the war, would you want them not to act and let the war continue? We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so," he said.
On unemployment in J-K, the chief minister said the issue cannot be resolved overnight, and government jobs alone are not the solution.
He stressed the need to explore alternative avenues, highlighting the importance of Mission Yuva in promoting entrepreneurship.
"Mission Yuva provides not just funding but also support in preparing DPRs and post-startup assistance, such as marketing. In just nine months, distributing Rs 1,000 crore and approving numerous schemes is a significant achievement," he said.
Abdullah credited the coordination between the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank for the scheme's progress.
