…Ask what you can do for the environment

Mohan Dharia:
Individuals can help immeasurably towards the cause of a healthy environment, by following two cardinal rules. Firstly, they should do nothing to harm the environment themselves because practice is better than preaching – plant trees and stop littering public places. Secondly, whenever possible, they should spread awareness about the necessity of keeping the environment clean. This awareness should be instilled in children, because even if some of them follow it in their everyday lives, it will help the environment.

B G Deshpande:
Conservation of the environment is something that can be done by just keeping our eyes and ears open. It can simply mean not throwing away your bus ticket or littering our surroundings, turning off the tap in time and so on. Conscious thought followed by action about the environment is what is needed.

Kalpana Gupte:
The common man can contribute to the cause of a healthy environment in every little way possible. If he cannot add his own efforts to the conservation process, he can atleast help maintain a clean environment. Plastic is harmful to the environment, so he can use cloth bags instead. He should periodically get the vehicle exhaust level of his vehicle checked. Planting trees will add to the green cover, which is so necessary for us. It does not need an organisation to carry out these simple steps, it just needs the will of the individual.

Y S Khaire:
There are certain measures that citizens can take to ensure a healthy environment. There needs to be an awareness among them about the natural life support systems. The Western concept of `development’ is one of short-term benefits yielding results for only a few people. Citizens need to think over this kind of `development.’ Non-renewable resources like petrol need to be used with care. Using public transport, walking if they are travelling a short distance, questioning the kind of food they consume and how much energy is used in cooking it are some factors that citizens can take into account

.Sujit Patwardhan:
The green cover is important in maintaining temperature control among other things. At a time when trees are being cut to make way for the city, it is necessary for citizens to take notice. They can contribute constructively to the environment by undertaking tree plantation drives. Effluents are not treated before they are released into rivers, making river water less potable and more hazardous to health.

D V R Rao:
Vermiculture biotechnology is a channel to re-establish our link with nature. It is, after all, an easy-to-use, affordable method towards conservation of natural resources. Natural kitchen waste should be segregated from non bio-degradable waste like plastic. Through the introduction of worms to leftover natural waste, the fertility of the soil increases and results in better produce of fresh fruits and vegetables. I call the worms used in vermiculture the `pets of the 21st century’ as they facilitate the conservation of natural resources in a scientific and convenient manner.