03 June,2011 07:31 AM IST | | Utkarsha Kotian
On the eve of World Environment Day on June 5, an exhibition at CST and Churchgate railway station aims to sensitise city slickers living amongst bricks 'n' mortar to the benefits of going green
Unlike any other day, on Thursday morning, commuters at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Churchgate railway station were greeted by a bunch of people clad in black t-shirts and jeans.
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The exhibition at Churchgate railway station
These volunteers were part of an exhibition held at both the stations and organised by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) along with Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), to educate Mumbaikars about the deterioration of the environment in the city.
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The exhibition, which was organised on the eve of the World Environment Day, will be held from 9 am to 8 pm till June 4.
The exhibition included themes such as Urban Biodiversity; Air, Water and Noise Pollution; Green Zones of Mumbai; Extinct Wildlife of the city; Citizens' Initiatives; Death of Mumbai's Seashore; Mangroves and the Magic of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).
The event was inaugurated by Rahul Jain, Divisional Railway Manager, Central Railway at CST and Subodh Kumar Jain, Additional General Manager, Western Railways at Churchgate.u00a0 "The aim of the exhibition is to bring awareness about the environment.
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Many do not know that a simple act of carrying a bag from home while shopping can make a big difference," said Atul Sathe, Public Relations Officer (PRO), BNHS. While many commuters stopped to have a look at the posters, mostly out of curiosity others inquired if some freebies were available. Many were not interested at all.
The lack of interest did not deter Sugandha Shetty, a chemistry lecturer from participating enthusiastically at the exhibition at CST. Shetty, a nature enthusiast has been a part of BNHS for 12 years. Yesterday, she was busy informing commuters about the city's environment.u00a0
Another volunteer, Eugene Rego was doing something similar at Churchgate. "We have picturesu00a0 of various green spots in the city, the wild animals and where they can be seen," explained Rego to every passerby at Churchgate.
Awareness
The exhibition had pictures of the city's green lungs such as the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Bombay Port Trust (BPT) Gardens and Godrej Mangroves in Vikhroli. People who had gathered in small groups, were pleasantly surprised to look at the pictures which showed the variety of flora and fauna that exists in Mumbai. "People keep saying that more trees are needed and that the pollution levels in Mumbai are very high.
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But frankly they do not try to change it. In fact I did not even know that there are so many forest areas in the city," said Prashant Joshi, a student from H R College. Suresh Kumar, an advisor with a bank agreed with him. "Off late, the small pockets of the city that were previously known for their green surroundings, have been encroached," said Kumar.
Knowledge
While the volunteers were busy explaining the kinds of plants and trees that one can see in the city, a few visitors expressed skepticism about the "very purpose of the exhibition." Saidu00a0 Samarth Patil, a real estate broker from Bandra, "All this is okay. But what am I getting out of this? You are showing me pictures of trees I see everyday, why do you need such a big exhibition for it? It is simply a waste of money."
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At this point, a young volunteer stepped in and explained to Patil the importance of trees their significance in our lives. Patil seemed so convinced by the explanation that he asked for a BNHS membership form. "My children like adventure. So I think they would like to go for walks and explore the forests. The future generation, I believe, should know about the environment" said Patil.
Another nature enthusiast, Dinesh Doshi, a life insurance agent from Vile Parle, walked past the stall but something caught his attention. "I saw the words-Save Water Save Trees written somewhere and I have come to inquire about the exhibition," said Doshi.
Moved by the dedication of the volunteers, he immediately filled in a membership form. "I have always liked trees. I have understood a lot about trees through this exhibition, so now I am looking forward to learn a lot more by being a part of the organisation," he said.
Animals
The exhibition also had pictures of animals such as leopards, jackals and hyena found in forests in Mumbai. A picture of a pair of hyenas that can now be seen at Veer Jijamata Prani Sangrahalay or Byculla zoo, is a stark reminder of the damage that cutting down of trees has done to these wild animals.
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"It is tough for us to even imagine that these animals once roamed freely within the city's forests. Barring the leopard, very few wild animals can be seen in their natural habitat now," explained Preeti, a volunteer with BNHS. A visibly excited Prathma Thakur (7) also shared the same sentiment.
Commuters take a look at posters on display.
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On her way to see Nariman Point with her parents, she dragged them to the exhibition after seeing pictures of the leopards. "I have seen a hyena at the zoo, but I have never seen a leopard. I didn't know I could see them in the city. Now I will ask my parents to take me to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), so that I can see them," she said.
Pledge
A special section of the exhibition was dedicated to issues such as littering and spitting in public places. Visitors were urged to pledge online at the venue for changing their lifestyles towards a greener future.
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Equipped with five laptops at each station, the volunteers explained the details to people who showed interest. Rajdeep Kumar, a 24-year-old marketing executive who recently shifted to the city from Bangalore, said that he would give unconditional support to the programme.
"If everybody just decides not to litter, the city will look a lot more cleaner," Kumar said. Balakrishna Date who is associated with the Western Railway Adventure Sports Association said, "The next generation will miss seeing Mumbai in its green glory. The exhibition is good way to educate them and encourage them to care for the environment before it is too late," he said.
Response
After pledging his support, Rajdeep was all praise for the initiative. "In Bangalore, there is a lot of greenery, but when I came to Mumbai two months ago, I missed the fresh air and the greenery. We need to see more such events." Agreed Priyanka Patil, who cleared her Class 12 exams recently.
"We study how trees are important to sustain human life. But I have never done anything to change the situation. It feels good that in today's fast life, there are people who are concerned about the environment."u00a0 The exhibition at both places saw a steady flow of people.
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Rego said,"We are expecting a lot more people in the evening during the rush hour. In the morning there was a lot of curiosity and the response has simply been overwhelming."
The exhibition will be held from 9 am to 8 pm till June 4 in front of the ticket counters at both stations.
Book Launch
The closing ceremony of the BNHS World Environment Day celebrations will be held at BNHS Conservation Education Centre (CEC) in Goregaon (E) near Film City on June 5 between 5 pm to 7 pm. This includes the launch of the book, "Green Guide for Teachers".u00a0
One lakh reasons for a greener tomorrow
For Santacruz-based Dilip Shah, it is more of a ritual. Every year, on June 5, Shah gives away one lakhu00a0 saplings for free to anyone who wants to plant them.
"I was a commercial planter and owned a nursery too. But eight years ago, I thought that I should give back to the environment. Since then I have been a social planter and I plant trees so that the greenery in the city increases," said Shah, who has been donating saplings since 2003.
This year, on June 5 he will give away one lakh saplings of Australian Mangium, Rain Tree, Gulmohar, Kashid to anyone who wants to plant them.
Shah said, "Until last year I only had saplings of Australian Mangium since they do not require special care and grow faster than other trees. But people wanted to plant trees that would bear fruit. So this year I have other varieties as well."
He regularly plants saplings at Karjat and Panvel too, and monitors their growth throughout the year.
"I make sure that the saplings I plant grow into trees and I take full care of them. I have planted thousands of trees and I am against rampant deforestation. Trees are animportant component of human life, and I am doing my bit to save them," he said.
