In the battle between man and nature, there can be only one outcome: the decimation of the human race.
As long as development is not antagonistic to nature, mankind will thrive. But when he starts to disregard nature in his mad quest for material pursuits, it signals the beginning of the end.
An Australian Court rejected the environmental clearance given to Adani Group of India’s coal project because the project posed a threat to two endangered species which are a lizard and a snake found exclusively in Australia.
Also, the Court said that a proper report had not been given on the harm to the surrounding ecosystem because of the extraction of coal. This means that the pollution board of Australia will have to do a detailed check once again and the Adani group will have to reapply.
In India, would similar considerations prevent a billion dollar project? Absolutely not!
The ‘Times of India’ carried an article today which said that Amaravati, the proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh, will face eight major environmental challenges that may affect the local atmosphere and lead to adverse climatic events in the region, according to a document prepared by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Yet, the State government is absolutely unconcerned about this and is going ahead with its plans.
According to the report, degradation of vegetation, uncontrolled concretization, lack of control on automobile and industrial emissions, unchecked mining activity in the surrounding hills, emissions from paddy fields and agro-processing activities are responsible for the fragile ecology of the region.
It also noted that extensive concrete bunds and sand dunes in the river and irrigation canals cause re-radiation, leading to increase in the average temperature.
We can sacrifice our lives for the greed of the state administration but why should our children, our future generations succumb to the ill-effects of this madness? And that is exactly what is going to happen if we don’t act now.
We should learn a thing or two from the Aussies.
