ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ‘ಗ್ಯಾಸ್ ಚೇಂಬರ್’ ಆಗದಂತೆ ತಡೆಯಲು ಹಸಿರು ಹೊದಿಕೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಳ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯ: ಅರಣ್ಯ ಸಚಿವ ಈಶ್ವರ ಖಂಡ್ರೆ

ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಮತೋಲನ ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಶೇ. 33% ರಷ್ಟು ಹಸಿರು ಹೊದಿಕೆ ಇದ್ದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕರ ನಗರವನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ, ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಸಿರು ಹೊದಿಕೆ ಕ್ಷೀಣಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, 1.40 ಕೋಟಿ ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಇರುವ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ 10 ಕೋಟಿ ಮರಗಳನ್ನು ಪೋಷಿಸುವ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಅರಣ್ಯ, ಪರಿಸರ ಜಾಗೂ ಜೀವಿಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಸಚಿವrರಾದ ಈಶ್ವರ ಬಿ ಖಂಡ್ರೆ ಅವರು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಆಯೇಷಾ ಖಾನಂ

ಅವರು ಗಣ್ಯರನ್ನು ಸ್ವಾಗತಿಸಿ, ಪ್ರಾಸ್ತಾವಿಕವಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ಬದಲಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರದಲ್ಲಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಪರಿಸರ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿರುವ ಶಾಖದ ಕುರಿತು ವರದಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುವ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುವ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಡುವೆ ಸೇತುವೆಯಾಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುವ ಜವಬ್ಧಾರಿಯಿಂದ ಇಂತಹ ವಿನೂತನ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಾರವನ್ನು ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದರು.
ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ದಶಕದಲ್ಲಿ ತಾಪಮಾನ ಏರಿಕೆ ವಿಷಯ ಜಾಗತಿಕವಾಗಿ ಆಳುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರಗಳ ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಜನ-ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರ ಸಾವು-ನೋವುಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಗಂಭೀರ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಜನ-ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರು ಪಾಲಿಸಬೇಕಾದ ಜಾಗೃತಿ ಅಂಶಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಇಂದಿನ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಾರ ಬೆಳಕು ಚೆಲ್ಲಿಲಿದೆ.
ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಚರ್ಚಿಸುವ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಂಡಿಸಿದ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮುಂದಿನ ಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವರದಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.

Scientifically, to maintain ecological balance, a healthy city can be built only when there is 33% green cover. The green cover in the growing Bengaluru is decreasing, and at least 10 crore trees need to be nurtured in the city of Bengaluru, which has a population of 1.40 crore, said Forest, Environment and Zoology Minister Eshwar B Khandre.
Speaking after inaugurating a media workshop on temperature extremes and their effects in Bengaluru, organized in collaboration with Karnataka Media Academy and Asar Social Impact Advisors at a private hotel in the city today, he said that science suggests that at least 7 trees should be there for a person to get good oxygen.
Speaking at length about the changes taking place in the environment of Bengaluru and the future plans of the Forest Department, he said that it is a matter of concern that Bengaluru, which was once known as a ‘paradise for retirees’ and an ‘air-conditioned city’, is now turning into a concrete jungle.
He said that if Bengaluru experiences similar growth and increases in vehicle traffic, there is an urgent need to increase the green cover to avoid it becoming a ‘gas chamber’ like New Delhi.
*Restoration of past glory:*
The Forest Department is committed to reclaiming the green Bengaluru built by Kempegowda. The Minister assured that strict measures will be taken to restore the green cover around the city and prevent environmental pollution.
Pollution and degradation of lakes:
Many of the approximately 250 lakes in Bengaluru have disappeared due to development, and some are now polluted with waste water. This is causing water and air pollution, which is having an adverse effect on public health. He expressed concern that temperatures are rising due to traffic congestion and carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.
*Planting 11 crore saplings:*
Sharing the achievements of the Forest Department, the Minister said, “Around 11 crore saplings have been planted across the state in the last three years. I have instructed to conduct a scientific survey to find out how many of these saplings have survived and upload the report on the department’s website for public information.”
The Forest Department has formulated a mega plan to protect the ‘breathing spaces’ of Bengaluru, and forest land worth about Rs 10,000 crores that was illegally encroached on in strategic areas of the city like Kadugodi and Turahalli has been reclaimed. The Karnataka Forest Department has taken a historic step to increase the green cover that is decreasing day by day in the Silicon City and to maintain ecological balance.
*Construction of ‘Neduthops’ on abandoned land:*
The department has formulated a master plan to not only clear encroachments but also to prevent land grabbers from encroaching again. He said that a compound will be built immediately on the reclaimed land and thousands of saplings will be planted to convert those areas into ‘Urban Forests’. These will act as natural centers that provide clean air to the people of the city.
*Bengaluru to get another ‘Lalbag’:*
He said that in order to increase the green area of ​​the city, a ‘Vishvaguru Basavannavara Mahara Biopark’ will be built on 153 acres of land in Madappanahalli, Bengaluru North taluk.
*District-level action plan to prevent climate change*
The ‘Karnataka State Action Plan’ prepared by EMPRI for environmental pollution control has received the government’s approval. Training and implementation processes will begin soon under the leadership of District Collectors to deal with climate change in all 31 districts of the state.
He said that our ultimate goal is to rebuild the lakes of Bangalore and expand the green belt of the city with the motto “Vriksho Rakshita Rakshita”.
He said that action will be taken by the Forest Department if a detailed report is submitted on the topics presented by the subject experts and the topics discussed by the media representatives in today’s workshop.
Ayesha Khanam, President of Karnataka Media Academy, welcomed the dignitaries and gave an introductory speech, saying that such an innovative workshop has been organized due to the responsibility of the media, which is responsible for reporting on the environmental changes and increasing heat in the changing city of Bangalore and drawing the attention of the government, and acting as a bridge.
In the current decade, the issue of temperature rise is attracting the attention of governments globally and is causing deaths and injuries to the common people. In addition to drawing the attention of the government on such a serious issue, today’s workshop will shed light on the awareness factors that the common people should follow.
He said that a report will be submitted to the government for further action on the topics discussed and presented in this workshop of the Media Academy.
MS Diwakar, Director of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre, who was the main speaker, said that environmental disasters are common. Currently, the impact of technology and media communication is getting more news. If we look at history, we can see many records.
According to studies, the report says that this year the rainfall will decrease, since it is known that the temperature has increased in the sun, a report is already being prepared in partnership with IISc, Bangalore on the steps that the common people should take during this hot season and public awareness is being created.
In 1980, Karnataka was the first in India to set up DMC to study environmental changes.