Every year 5th June is celebrated as World Environment Day across the world. The day commemorates the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment held in 1972. The first world Environment Day was celebrated in 1974. Since then, World Environment Day has been celebrated annually on 5th June. The main aim of the celebration of World Environment day is to educate and aware people about the importance of a safe and clean environment and to encourage them to work for environment conservation and protection. The theme for the world environment day 2023 is “Solution to Plastic Pollution”. Tones of plastic are being produced by the plastic industry every year in India and tonnes of plastic waste are being burnt, buried into mother earth and getting into fresh water bodies of all states including the Jammu and Kashmir. The plastic pollution in Jammu and Kashmir is very high everywhere. Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance and it has caused havoc in the world due to its more deleterious effects on the environment. It is estimated that 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic is currently found in oceans’. For the past many years, unabated plastic pollution came into the limelight at international level and accordingly United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) urged all nations to beat plastic pollution sooner the better for environment protection. All religions in the world prohibit all kinds of pollution and support the protection and conservation of the environment. The religion of Islam strictly prohibits excessive consumption and wasteful resources for the protection of the environment. The constitution of India has provided a number of rights for the welfare of citizens in all respects and at the same time, citizens have various duties including duty to protect the environment. The Article 48-A of the constitution states that the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forest and wildlife of the country. The Article 51-A of the constitution says that it is the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures. The Jammu and Kashmir being eco fragile zone is confronted with many environmental challenges particularly global warming, greenhouse effect, climate change, deforestation, water and air pollutions, dying of water bodies, water scarcity, falling groundwater tables, desertification, biodiversity loss, retreating of glaciers, flash floods, man animal conflicts, forest fire, extinction of flora and fauna species. Due to rapid population explosion, urbanization, industrialization and modernization, pollution has soared that caused great damage and destruction to the environment of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir once famous for its healthy air, freshwater, fertile soil has been ranked among the most polluted states in India. Pollution of air, water and soil and destruction of other natural resources in Jammu and Kashmir are unabated. Technological advancement, non-judicious use of resources’ and violation of environmental laws by materialistic people have put a great pressure on the environment and fragile zone of Jammu and Kashmir.
The plastic and other kinds of wastes are constantly getting into water bodies like lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Plastic pollution has created a mess in our surroundings’ and many fresh water bodies have choked due to plastic pollution. The water pollution of fresh water bodies has caused water scarcity in many regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Choked water bodies have affected aquatic flora and fauna species and good-bye to employment of thousands of people. Plastic pollution has also turned vast areas of fertile land into waste and barren land. Plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives and every one of us uses plastic and its products without even thinking about where they might end up. There is an immediate need for a plastic ban at international and national level in order to stop the flow of plastic waste ending up in the environment. The educational institutions have to play an important role in raising awareness among the students about the importance of the environment. The students are assets of a society, they are our future leaders, policy makers, environmentalists, and they can convey environmental conservation messages to the public and work for the betterment and protection of the environment. It is pertinent to mention that under G20 activities, all educational institutions in the Jammu and Kashmir have been regularly conducting seminars, debates, campaigns, cleanliness drives, and rallies on environment awareness, conservation and protection. Students of educational institutions have been planting trees in school premises and public places. They are cleaning and collecting wastes scattered at public places and in the water bodies for the protection of the environment. Blanket ban on single use plastic is the need of hour although, its ban will cause unemployment to the people employed in plastic industries but shifting of same people to jute industry, cloth industry and paper industry will not only save their employment problem but will protect the environment for the welfare of all ecosystems’. Education and awareness among people about the importance of a safe and clean environment and inclusion of environment curriculum in all classes can yield better results. Reduce, Reuse and recycle of waste and conducting seminars, debates, discussions, campaigns, outreach programs on environment conservation can contribute significantly towards the environment protection. Adopting eco-friendly lifestyles and sustainable values in life such as recycling of waste, reduction in use of plastic, use of cloth bags and a mindful reduction in carbon footprint by using renewable sources of energy, green technology, green energy and biofuels can reduce pollution and improve our environment. Sustainable agriculture practices like organic farming, green manuring, use of bio fertilizers, and bio pesticides also can reduce pollution and protect the environment. Constructive initiatives like tree planting activities’ in homes, schools, colleges, public places by students, teachers, volunteers, civil society members, and green citizen members help to fight environmental destruction. Investing in sustainable sectors, better waste management infrastructure and creating green jobs will have a positive influence on the environment and contribute significantly to overall environmental welfare. Cleanliness drives by people in all water bodies, rivers, lakes, streams, canals and on mother earth can protect the water bodies from dying and soil from desertification. Conserving the environment is our moral and fundamental duty and its conservation will protect all living flora and fauna and maintain ecological balance in nature. There are a number of resources available for the welfare of all creatures but unfortunately, modern men are using resources in ways that are non-judicious and harmful to the environment and ecological balance. It is high time to join hands together to fight plastic and other kinds of pollution for the betterment of the environment and ecosystems otherwise existence of all flora and fauna species becomes very difficult with every passing day.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam . The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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