Nature Conservation & Infrastructure Development
This was an area of least concern even during Asoka's reign. He set rules and deep compassion was expressed in order to prevent mis-utilization of our environmental assets may be on ideological grounds but nevertheless.
Nature worship or the veneration of living and nonliving entities in this country was not because of misplaced logic - Nature is God's creation. Even Vedas preached nature conservation albeit much on rational grounds, though many fail to recognize these journals based on scientific logic with social and ideological inclinations. These are a gift from our ancestors who explored the correct pathways for our existence on Earth.
The Vedas set conservation ethos rolling in this country and so did the practice of Hinduism a nature centrist ecosystem of beliefs that is the heart and soul of the believers. The conservation ethos set during earlier times reflects on our character subtly but is most needed now after the devastating ravage that happened in the last few centuries more so in recent times.
Contingency prevails like never before in India, with the emergence of new socioeconomic order that is hell-bent on relentless infrastructure development a phenomenon that strips natural lands (remaining) till they are barren nonliving entities with scarred faces. Unproductive elements spew venom and are life-threatening. The lost equilibrium could take decades to rejuvenate if so desired.
For us, the definition of an environmental asset is limited to major chunks of forests in the shape of National Parks, tiger reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. Paradoxically though created on the right grounds they tend to limit our vision as well. But we must get rid of myopia and consider wastelands, scrub and thorn forests, deserts, wetlands, niche ecosystems, and grasslands all as productive. These too comprise of living and nonliving entities and are extremely valuable assets. The size or span is inconsequential, but we must consider them as valuable units and thus tend to preserve them. Yes, even the wild floral patch and a pool in your confines.
But staying aloof does not exonerate the common man since we should act as pressure groups or prevent damage to such entities in our confines. Conservation onus should not be seen as that of dispensations alone...we are equally responsible. Urbanization is the greatest threat, and we do not peek into the damage an irresponsible approach does to the land. We are part of these projects directly or indirectly and we can ameliorate them. Voicing your opinion in any form except violence is an imperative that every citizen should follow. Though the legislation is passed in the assemblies we must set the corrective pathways in motion in order to influence proper decisions. In a democracy casting votes is not enough right to speak up and criticize without resorting to sedition is within our legal framework.
For ruling dispensations that come and go infrastructure development is the key to remaining in power in the guise of easing life, and alleviating poverty thus offering a better standard of living howsoever artificial. Our greatest environmental assets are not limited to protected areas and biosphere reserves they are everywhere big and small. But we fail to recognize them as an entity, and thus weaken pressure to be imposed in order to prevent damage before the axe strikes.
In this new order much influenced by the Western growth paradigm, we fail to recognize the irreversible instance of loss of nature that has evolved since life became feasible on Earth. We are mired in an irreversible development process that has taken an evolutionary impetus at the behest of man.
This criticism is difficult to withhold since infrastructure development albeit inimical to nature in most cases is a must for civilizations aiming to achieve economic prosperity and modern living of comfort and haste.
The world cannot come to a stop and we cannot continue to live in a stone age. But with human evolution, we continue to change for the better, especially in the growth of our mental faculties. Unfortunately, the latter has not helped us much in moving forward without damage to the precious resources and ecosystems on Earth. On the contrary, we are shooting past every yardstick in expressive haste without looking back to notice the spoils left behind. The continuing extinctions on Earth is vindictive.
Only phenomenon like global warming has put some of us on alert but then who cares besides laying down principals that aim at stopping further disaster. It may have set the ball rolling but do we have to wait for an anomaly to strike before we set systems in motion to prevent further deterioration. This would mean it is too late. This also means catastrophe in making and that Armageddon is real. Our style of functioning has made the threat of major conflicts a reality and we have stored enough nuclear arsenal to blow us all to smithereens. Pandemics are threats that are in existence because of our follies.
Perhaps we could begin with rationalizing infrastructural development and see obstacles not as imperatives to be removed or stripped but more so as inviolate. We have already implemented this in practice with the initiation of tiger conservation and the setting up of protected areas in the country. We are far ahead of civilizations that are devoid of conservation literature or ideological leaning on the preservation of life and the environment as a whole.
A Nation that zealously venerates cows not only on grounds of compassion but also for their economic rewards past and present should apply the same logic to all environmental assets and label them as inviolate. Maneuvering will certainly become the tough and quick answers to our development goals may be thwarted but then we will move the right way. The aim should be to avoid damage to the assets and find ways of forward movement the right way. If we do not future generations are sure to pay the price for our folly. To some especially in the ruling fraternity, this protectionism may sound illogical but if we do take the difficult road to development we will be building structures, not at the cost of our fragile ecosystems, and setting an example for the World to follow.
Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, and environmental issues.He also provides SEO and Website Content in English.
He can be contacted at:
Mail: pateluday90@hotmail.com
Mob: 09755089323
